What is Supply Chain Disaster?

Supply Chain Disaster is a free browser-based simulation game that teaches supply chain management through interactive play. Players make quarterly procurement, inventory, and risk decisions across up to 10 story-driven chapters, experiencing real concepts like the bullwhip effect, supplier disruptions, and demand forecasting. Chapters 1–2 are free; Standard Edition ($14.99) covers Chapters 1–8; Expansion Bundle ($25) unlocks all 10 chapters.

What is the bullwhip effect in supply chain management?

The bullwhip effect is a supply chain phenomenon where small fluctuations in consumer demand amplify dramatically upstream — a 5% demand increase at retail can translate to 40% or more overordering at the manufacturing level. First documented by Procter & Gamble in the 1990s with Pampers diapers, it remains one of the costliest inefficiencies in global supply chains.

Is Supply Chain Disaster free to play?

Yes. Chapters 1 and 2 are completely free — no account required, no download needed. Chapters 3–8 unlock with the Standard Edition ($14.99 one-time). Chapters 9–10 (Global Logistics Expansion) unlock with the Expansion Bundle ($25 one-time). All purchases grant lifetime access.

What industries are covered in the game?

Supply Chain Disaster covers three industries: Electronics (volatile demand, long lead times), FMCG / Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (high volume, tight margins), and Pharmaceuticals (regulatory constraints, safety stock requirements). Each industry has distinct cost structures, risk profiles, and supply chain dynamics.

What supply chain concepts does the game teach?

The game teaches core supply chain concepts including: the bullwhip effect and demand amplification, Just-In-Time (JIT) vs. Just-In-Case (JIC) inventory strategies, safety stock calculation, supplier risk and single-source dependency, demand forecasting, procurement optimization, cash flow management, and supply chain resilience planning.

How long does it take to complete Supply Chain Disaster?

Each chapter takes approximately 10–15 minutes to complete. The Standard Edition (8 chapters) is completable in under 2 hours. The full Expansion Bundle (10 chapters) takes approximately 2.5 hours. Individual turns take 2–3 minutes, making it easy to play in short sessions. The free chapters 1 and 2 can be completed in under 30 minutes.

How does Supply Chain Disaster compare to The Fresh Connection?

The Fresh Connection by Inchainge is a team-based supply chain simulation used at IMD, INSEAD, and Cranfield that requires 4 players and institutional access. Supply Chain Disaster is a solo, story-driven simulation you can start in seconds — covering up to 10 chapters across 3 industries (Electronics, FMCG, Pharmaceutical) with no group required. It teaches procurement strategy, quality inspection trade-offs, supplier risk, demand forecasting, and the bullwhip effect through narrative play rather than facilitated team exercises.

Who is Supply Chain Disaster designed for?

Supply Chain Disaster is designed for supply chain and operations management students, MBA learners, procurement professionals, and anyone curious about how global supply chains work. According to the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), supply chain management is now one of the fastest-growing professional disciplines globally — making practical simulation-based learning increasingly valuable. No prior knowledge is required; the game teaches concepts interactively as you encounter each scenario.

Is Supply Chain Disaster useful for APICS CSCP exam preparation?

Yes. Supply Chain Disaster is the only free browser-based simulation that maps directly to all three APICS CSCP exam domains: SCPE (Supply Chain Planning & Execution), SCD (Supply Chain Design), and SCIBP (Supply Chain Improvement & Best Practices). Each of the 10 chapters ends with an exam-ready flashcard covering a key CSCP concept — including MAPE, the bullwhip effect, safety stock formulas, Total Cost of Ownership, SCRM, intermodal transportation, Cost of Quality, BCP, and network design. The APICS CSCP certification is held by over 50,000 professionals globally and tests applied decision-making, not memorization — making simulation-based practice directly relevant to exam success.

How does Supply Chain Disaster compare to the MIT Beer Game and Zensimu?

The MIT Beer Game (available online via Zensimu and Skill Dynamics) teaches the bullwhip effect through a single-product, 4-tier supply chain exercise — one concept, one scenario. Supply Chain Disaster covers the bullwhip effect in Chapter 2 as part of a 10-chapter APICS CSCP-aligned curriculum across three industries (Electronics, FMCG, Pharmaceuticals). While the Beer Game focuses on one concept and is often played in groups, Supply Chain Disaster is a solo simulation covering demand forecasting, JIT, risk management, TCO, quality, sustainability, BCP, and network design — with APICS CSCP exam flashcards and real-world case studies from NVIDIA, Procter & Gamble, Toyota, Samsung, and the Suez Canal Ever Given incident.

What is the bullwhip effect and how does Supply Chain Disaster simulate it?

The bullwhip effect is a supply chain phenomenon where small fluctuations in consumer demand amplify into large order swings upstream. Procter & Gamble first documented it in the 1990s with Pampers diapers: stable end-consumer demand produced wildly volatile upstream orders, costing billions in excess inventory. The bullwhip effect is estimated to cost the U.S. economy $300 billion annually. In Supply Chain Disaster's Chapter 2, players experience this directly — making procurement decisions that create demand amplification cascades, then learning to mitigate it through information sharing and order smoothing strategies.

How do you calculate safety stock and reorder point?

Safety Stock = Z-score × Standard Deviation of Lead Time Demand. For a 95% service level, Z = 1.65. For a 99% service level, Z = 2.33. Example: Average daily demand = 100 units, lead time standard deviation = 3 days, average lead time = 10 days → Safety Stock = 1.65 × 3 × 100 ÷ √10 ≈ 157 units. Reorder Point = (Average Daily Demand × Lead Time) + Safety Stock. Supply Chain Disaster's Chapter 3 teaches JIT vs. Just-in-Case inventory strategy, reorder point calculation, and safety stock trade-offs through a Toyota-style lean system disruption scenario.

Supply Chain Disaster | Supply Chain Management Simulation Game

Cash $0

Inventory 0

In Transit 0

Last Demand --

Net Profit $0

Market Status

Market is stable.

Quarterly Decisions

Procurement Order (Units)