product demand, late shipments from suppliers, defective parts or raw material, or production process breakdowns. More accurate information from supply chain management systems reduces uncertainty and the impact of the bullwhip effect, in which information about the demand for a product gets distorted as it passes from one entity to the next across the supply chain. With perfect information about demand and production, a firm can implement an effective just-in-time strategy, delivering goods in the right amount and as they are needed.