Time certain to produce deletion (7)
I believe the answer is:
erasure
'deletion' is the definition.
(erasure is a kind of deletion)
'time certain' is the wordplay.
'time' becomes 'era' (era is a kind of time).
'certain' becomes 'sure' (synonyms).
'era'+'sure'='ERASURE'
'to produce' is the link.
(Other definitions for erasure that I've seen before include "Rubbing out - English synthpop duo" , "Process of rubbing out" , "Obliteration - rare use (anag)" , "group from the 80s" , "clearing of tape" .)