Understanding Cash Flows

a. Archer Corporation is a ski manufacturer. Production takes place primarily in the months of January through March and shipments to customers are primarily in the months of July through September. Baker Corporation produces office supplies and has relatively constant sales throughout the year. Casper Corporation specializes in extinguishing fires in oil wells. How are the cash flow patterns of these companies likely to differ?

b. What types of activities may cause a company with sales that are relatively uniform throughout the year to report substantially different levels of cash inflows and outflows during some months of the year?