DQS

What DQS does

DQS Holding GmbH is a privately held German independent certification body founded in 1985 and headquartered in Frankfurt, with a US branch in Schaumburg, Illinois. The company provides third-party auditing and certification services across more than 200 recognized management system standards, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, ISO 22301, ISO 50001, ISO 22000, ISO 13485, ISO 21434, TISAX, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, VDA 6.1/6.2, and MDSAP, alongside regulatory designations such as Notified Body status under EU MDR 2017/745 for medical devices. As a founding member of IQNet, DQS-issued certificates are recognized in over 150 countries, and the firm operates through 80 offices in 60 countries with more than 3,000 auditors worldwide, serving over 65,000 certified locations.

The underlying technology stack consists of digital audit management tooling rather than a software platform per se. The MyDQS customer portal allows clients to manage certification documentation and audit cycles online, while the DQS Audit Manager coordinates audit scheduling and execution across geographies. Complementary services include the DQS Academy (training), Med Xpert Lab (medical device expertise), ESG audits, social audits, supplier due diligence audits, mystery audits, and store checks. Go-to-market is consultative and sales-led: free initial consultation, scope-based quote with no publicly disclosed pricing, multi-year contracts with recurring surveillance and recertification audits.

Revenue is generated through subscription-style recurring certification fees across initial, surveillance, and recertification audits. Pricing is bespoke, determined by certification scope, number of sites, and complexity, with multi-year contract cadence typical. Following the March 2026 divestiture by UL Solutions of its stake for approximately €105 million, DQS operates as a fully independent entity and has consolidated ASEAN operations in Malaysia and Singapore into wholly owned subsidiaries (February 2026) under CEO Ingo M. Rübenach, with capital backing from the German Institute for Standardization (DIN).

Name

DQS

Legal name

DQS Holding GmbH

Website

https://dqs.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

DQS is a German-headquartered independent certification body founded in 1985, auditing and certifying management systems (ISO and sector-specific standards) across 60 countries for 65,000+ enterprise clients, with Notified Body status under EU MDR and IQNet-recognized certificates valid in 150+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management System Certification Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Management System Certification (Food Safety + Quality/Environment/OHS) (AFALACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Supplier & Vendor Qualification Audits (Second-Party Audits) (AFALABAB), Environmental Compliance Audits & Management System Audits (EHS Audits, ISO 14001/45001 Compliance Audits) (EUAHABAF), Food Safety Auditing & Inspection Services (GFSI/Third-Party Audits) (AFALAAAB), Supplier Approval & Second-Party Audit Programs (Retailer/Brand/Manufacturer) (AFALACAF)

Keywords

• Management system certification
• ISO certification audits
• Compliance auditing services
• Third-party certification body
• Quality management certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Certification Services: DQS provides independent certification services for management systems. Revenue is generated through initial certification audits, surveillance audits, and recertification audits. The company offers over 200 recognized standards and certification programs across multiple industries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

DQS provides independent third-party auditing and certification of management systems and processes against ISO standards (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, ISO 22000) and industry-specific schemes (EU MDR, MDSAP, TISAX, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, VDA 6.x, IFS Logistics). Services span initial certification audits, surveillance audits, recertification audits, tailor-made audits, social and supplier audits, and ESG assessments, delivered through a global network of accredited auditors and recognized in over 150 countries via the IQNet network.

Product overview

DQS is a global certification and audit services company offering a comprehensive portfolio of over 200 recognized certification standards and assessment programs. The core offering consists of ISO management system certifications (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, ISO 22301, ISO 50001, ISO 21001, ISO 21434, ISO 22000) covering quality, environment, occupational health and safety, information security, business continuity, energy, education, automotive cybersecurity, and food safety domains. Industry-specific certifications include TISAX for automotive, BRCGS Consumer Products, FSSC 22000, IFS Logistics, VDA 6.1/6.2, GDP, and MDSAP/MDR for medical devices. Additional services include tailor-made audits, supplier audits, social audits, mystery audits, store checks, ESG audits, and specialized programs like the Taiwan Technical Cooperation Program. Supporting services include the DQS Academy for training, Med Xpert Lab for medical device expertise, MyDQS customer portal, DQS Audit Manager digital tool, and IQNet certificate for global recognition. DQS operates as one of the world's most established independent certification bodies, accredited by national bodies and acting as a Notified Body under EU MDR 2017/745, with operations in over 60 countries, more than 3,000 auditors, and over 65,000 certified locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ISO 9001 Certification (Quality Management) Quality management system certification validating that an organization's processes meet international quality standards for continuous improvement.
• ISO 14001 Certification (Environmental Management) Environmental management system certification helping organizations improve environmental performance through more efficient resource use and waste reduction.
• ISO 45001 Certification (Occupational Health & Safety) Occupational health and safety management system certification to improve employee safety, reduce workplace risks, and create better working conditions.
• ISO 27001 Certification (Information Security) Information security management system certification defining requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving information security.
• ISO 22301 Certification (Business Continuity) Business continuity management system certification enabling organizations to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptive incidents.
• TISAX Certification (Automotive Information Security) Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange certification for the automotive industry enabling mutual recognition of information security assessments among participants.
• ISO 50001 Certification (Energy Management) Energy management system certification helping organizations improve energy performance, efficiency, use, and consumption.
• ISO 22000 Certification (Food Safety Management) Food safety management system certification establishing requirements for organizations in the food chain to demonstrate ability to control food safety hazards.
• FSSC 22000 Certification Food safety system certification based on ISO 22000 combined with sector-specific prerequisite programs for the entire food chain.
• BRCGS Consumer Products Certification Global Standard for Consumer Products certification for manufacturers of consumer products, ensuring quality, safety, and operational criteria.
• MDSAP - Medical Device Single Audit Program Single audit program allowing medical device manufacturers to demonstrate compliance with quality management system requirements of multiple regulatory jurisdictions in one audit.
• MDR (EU) 2017/745 Certification (Medical Device Regulation) EU Medical Device Regulation certification; DQS is a Notified Body authorized to assess and certify medical devices for the European market.
• Tailor-made Audits Customized audit solutions designed to address specific organizational requirements, industry sectors, or unique compliance needs beyond standard certifications.
• InsO Excellence Certification Insolvency excellence certification for organizations demonstrating best practices in insolvency management and turnaround processes.
• ISO 21001 Certification (Educational Organizations) Educational organizations management system certification for providers of education to enhance satisfaction of learners and other beneficiaries.
• AZAV Certification Certification for education and employment agencies in Germany, verifying compliance with accreditation requirements for placement services.
• ISO 21434 Certification (Road Vehicles Cybersecurity) Road vehicles cybersecurity engineering certification addressing cybersecurity engineering requirements throughout the product lifecycle in the automotive industry.
• VDA 6.1 Certification German Automotive Industry Association quality management audit certification for production process quality assurance.
• VDA 6.2 Certification German Automotive Industry Association certification for service organizations within the automotive sector, focusing on service quality standards.
• IFS Logistics Certification International Featured Standards certification for logistics providers assessing safety and quality of food handling processes.
• SQAS Assessment Safety Quality Assessment System evaluation for logistics service providers, particularly in the chemical industry, assessing multiple quality and safety aspects.
• GDP Certification (Good Distribution Practice) Certification ensuring proper distribution practices for pharmaceutical products including storage, transport, and documentation requirements.
• Social Audits Social compliance audits assessing labor standards, human rights, and ethical business practices in supply chains.
• Store Checks Retail store assessment services evaluating compliance with standards, visual merchandising, customer experience, and operational procedures.
• Mystery Audits Mystery shopping and secret shopper audits providing objective assessment of customer service quality and standards compliance.
• Supplier Due Diligence Audits Supplier audits for due diligence compliance, particularly for meeting regulatory requirements such as the German Supply Chain Act.
• MAAS-BGW Certification Certification for organizations in the German accident insurance system, demonstrating compliance with occupational health and safety standards.
• SCC/SCP Certification Safety Certificate Contractors and Personnel certification for companies and employees in high-risk industries, particularly construction and petrochemical sectors.
• ESG Audits Environmental, Social, and Governance assessment services providing credible insights and risk reduction for sustainability reporting.
• DQS Academy Training Programs Training and education services including courses, seminars, and professional development programs related to certification, audits, and standards compliance.

Named customers1 record

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• IQNetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDQS is a founding member of IQNet, the world's largest certification network. This partnership enables DQS certificates to be recognized in over 150 countries worldwide, providing international recognition and validity for certifications issued by DQS.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BSI (British Standards Institution): UK-based certification body and standards organization offering ISO management system certification, training, and supply-chain compliance services that overlap directly with DQS's portfolio.
• TÜV Rheinland: Direct competitor based in Germany providing ISO certifications, product testing, and Notified Body services under EU MDR; competes head-to-head with DQS across quality, environmental, and cybersecurity certifications.
• TÜV SÜD: German-headquartered TIC and certification body offering ISO management system certification, Notified Body services for medical devices and automotive, and a global audit network — directly overlapping DQS's core offerings.
• DEKRA: German-based certification and testing organization offering management system audits, automotive certification (including ISO 21434/TISAX-adjacent services), and a global auditor network — directly comparable to DQS.

Broad incumbents

• SGS: World's largest TIC company with global certification, inspection and laboratory testing operations; a broader incumbent that competes with DQS for ISO management system and industry-specific certification work.
• Intertek: Global TIC provider offering ISO management system certification alongside testing and inspection services; competes with DQS for enterprise certification mandates and supplier audit programs.
• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC major with a much broader testing, inspection and certification portfolio across more than 140 countries; overlaps with DQS in ISO certification but competes as a much larger one-stop-shop provider.
• DNV: Norwegian-headquartered certification body with strong presence in ISO 9001/14001/45001 and management system certification, particularly for maritime, energy, and food sectors where DQS also operates.

Others

• UL Solutions: Former minority shareholder of DQS Holding GmbH (stake sold for ~€105M in March 2026); a global TIC provider that is now an adjacent peer rather than an affiliate, with overlapping certification services.

Regional players

• Eurofins: European testing and certification group with strong food, environmental and product testing capabilities; competes with DQS in food safety certification (FSSC 22000, BRCGS) and environmental compliance auditing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheAuditCompany
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDHwdxUvl2yhl13ilV-5XDA
• Facebookfacebook.com/DQSGmbH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dqsglobal

Compliance16 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DQS