International Certification Management GmbH

What International Certification Management GmbH does

International Certification Management GmbH (ICM) is a privately held, DAkkS-accredited certification body headquartered in Oberschneiding, Germany, that issues accredited management-system certificates across the ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environmental), ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety), ISO 50001 (energy), and ISO 15378 (pharmaceutical primary packaging) standards, plus VDA 6.1 for German automotive suppliers and the DStV-Qualitätssiegel for tax advisory firms. The company was originally founded as GERMAN CERT GmbH in April 1996 and has passed through multiple ownership transitions, including a 2005 acquisition by Kiwa Deutschland GmbH, a 2010 spin-off under Mikes Testingpartner GmbH that established the current entity, CSA Bayern's 2013 investment, and an April 2024 ownership change with relocation to Oberschneiding.

ICM's business model is a subscription-style recurring revenue stream built on a 3-year certification cycle, in which each client contract covers the initial or re-certification audit plus two annual surveillance audits. Pricing is quote-based, derived from IAF MD 05 guidelines and client-specific factors (employee count, number of sites, scope, applicable standards), and the company emphasizes professional, flexible audit execution and authentic management-system assessment as its differentiators. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales with direct client acquisition through the company website, email, and phone — no resellers, paid media, or marketing automation are disclosed. The company reports 500 cumulative certifications issued over its history and a 4.8/5 customer satisfaction rating, and is currently recruiting a deputy leader to assume sole leadership upon the current leader's retirement in January 2028.

No proprietary technology stack or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed; the business operates as a labor-intensive professional services firm relying on its team of qualified auditors. Customer segments span manufacturing, automotive suppliers, pharmaceutical and cosmetic packaging manufacturers, and German tax advisory firms, with operations and accreditation scope restricted to the German/DACH market.

Name

International Certification Management GmbH

Legal name

International Certification Management GmbH

Website

https://ic-management.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

International Certification Management GmbH is a DAkkS-accredited German certification body that issues management-system certificates across ISO, VDA, and DStV standards to manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceutical packaging, and tax advisory clients on recurring 3-year audit cycles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management System Certification Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Standards, Metrology & Accreditation Bodies (BPAIAOAC)

Keywords

• Management system certification
• ISO certification services
• Accredited certification body
• Audit services
• Quality management certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Oberschneiding

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification and Audit Services: ICM generates revenue through certification and audit fees. The certification process follows a 3-year cycle consisting of initial or re-certification plus two surveillance audits per cycle. Offers are created individually based on each client's scope, number of employees, sites, and applicable standards. The pricing follows IAF guidelines (e.g., IAF MD 5) and covers the complete three-year certification period in a single offer. Revenue is recurring as clients require periodic surveillance audits and re-certification every three years.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

International Certification Management GmbH (ICM) is an accredited certification body headquartered in Oberschneiding, Germany, offering third-party audit and certification services for management systems across international standards. The company issues certifications for ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environmental), ISO 45001 (occupational health & safety), ISO 50001 (energy), ISO 15378 (primary packaging for medicinal products), VDA 6.1, and the DStV-Qualitätssiegel for tax advisors.

Product overview

International Certification Management GmbH (ICM) is an accredited certification body offering certification services for management systems. The company provides a portfolio of certification offerings covering various international standards including ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management), ISO 15378 (pharmaceutical packaging quality), ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety), ISO 50001 (energy management), VDA 6.1 (automotive quality), and the DStV-Qualitätssiegel for tax consulting firms. The certification process follows a structured 3-year cycle consisting of initial or re-certification with two surveillance audits. ICM operates under DAkkS (Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle) accreditation and conducts professional, reliable, and flexible audits accompanied by competent auditors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ISO 9001 Quality Management Certification

Quantifiable outcome

• 500 certifications issued to clients
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Mikes Testingpartner GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2010Mikes Testingpartner GmbH (based in Straßkirchen) established the new company International Certification Management GmbH in July 2010 to avoid closure of the Geiselhöring location. All existing employees were transferred to the new entity, and new accreditations for ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 were obtained the same month.
• Kiwa Deutschland GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2005Kiwa Deutschland GmbH acquired the certification body in May 2005, which was then renamed to Kiwa International Cert GmbH. This represented a significant ownership and operational transition for the certification services.
• Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS)OthersDAkkS is the national accreditation body of Germany and serves as the supervisory authority for ICM as an accredited certification body. Accreditation confirms ICM's competence to certify management systems against international standards.
• Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA)OthersVDA is the German Automotive Industry Association. ICM holds authorization for certification of automotive-specific standards VDA Bd. 6.1, 6.2, and 6.4 since 1997 and maintains this authorization following re-accreditation in November 2010.
• Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA)OthersKBA (Federal Motor Transport Authority) authorized ICM for certification of quality management systems according to StVZO (road traffic regulations) since 1997, re-authorized in November 2010.
• Trägergemeinschaft für Akkreditierung (TGA)OthersTGA provided initial accreditation for ISO 9001/9002 certification in August 1996. TGA also granted authorization for QS 9000 certification.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• GUTcertifizierungsgesellschaft mbH: Berlin-based accredited certification body focused on ISO management systems, sustainability, and energy management. Closely comparable mid-sized German competitor with overlapping ISO 9001/14001/45001/50001 offerings.
• Kiwa Deutschland GmbH: Acquired ICM's predecessor entity in 2005 and continues to operate as an accredited German certification body. Highly comparable in footprint, accreditation scope, and target customer profile.
• TÜV SÜD Management Service GmbH: One of Germany's largest accredited certification bodies offering the same ISO management system certifications (9001, 14001, 45001, 50001) and automotive QM certifications. Directly competes with ICM for the same German mid-market client base.
• CERTQUA GmbH: German DAkkS-accredited certification body issuing ISO 9001/14001/45001 and sector-specific certifications to mid-market German companies. Closely comparable size, accreditation status, and service mix to ICM.
• DQS GmbH: German-headquartered accredited certification body (founded by DKB, DGQ and BDI) issuing ISO 9001/14001/45001 and sector-specific certifications. Closely comparable scale and product overlap with ICM.

Broad incumbents

• Intertek Germany: German arm of Intertek providing accredited ISO certification alongside product testing and inspection. Direct overlap with ICM's ISO portfolio at enterprise scale.
• SGS Germany GmbH: German subsidiary of SGS, the world's largest TIC company. Overlaps with ICM in management system certification while operating at vastly greater scale across multiple service lines.
• Bureau Veritas Germany: German arm of Bureau Veritas, offering accredited ISO certifications, VDA-related services, and industry-specific audits. Competes with ICM across the same standards.
• TÜV Rheinland Cert GmbH: Global TIC giant offering ISO management system certification alongside testing, inspection, and product certification. Overlaps directly with ICM's core service lines at significantly greater scale.
• DEKRA Certification GmbH: Part of DEKRA Group, one of the world's largest testing, inspection and certification organizations. Competes head-to-head with ICM in ISO management system certification while operating across a much broader TIC portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-certification-management-gmbh

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 International Certification Management GmbH