A conversation with Dan Ludwig, senior vice president of DHL and head of the company's new office of Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Management for the Americas. DHL, a leading global express and logistics company and a subsidiary of Deutsche Post World Net, recently created a new humanitarian and emergency management office to formalize procedures and provide oversight for all the company's regional disaster preparedness and response efforts. This includes management of DHL Disaster Response Team Americas, which is part of a worldwide network of disaster response teams developed in partnership with the United Nations to support humanitarian relief efforts in the international community. Dan Ludwig was tapped to head this effort.

With the growth in offshore sourcing and manufacturing, supply lines have become longer, more complex and more vulnerable to disruptions. Concerned companies are meeting this challenge with a disciplined approach to supply management.

Major investments in equipment and infrastructure largely account for the ability to process traffic and volume efficiently, but industry needs to see continued ROI if such infusion of capital is to continue.