REFA Group
REFA Group is a century-old German training and consulting organization delivering industrial engineering, lean management, lean six sigma, and process optimization certifications and seminars to manufacturing firms, public administration, and multiple industry verticals across approximately 20 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1924
- HeadquartersDarmstadt, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What REFA Group does
REFA Group is a German professional training and consulting organization founded in 1924 in Darmstadt, Hessen, that delivers industrial engineering, lean management, lean six sigma, and process optimization certifications and seminars. The company operates through a dual-entity structure consisting of REFA AG (the operating company, registered in Dortmund) and REFA Fachverband e.V. (the association entity in Darmstadt), with REFA Consulting AG functioning as the consulting subsidiary. The core technology is the REFA methodology — a continuously developed system for work design, process optimization, and productivity management that is jointly validated by German employers (BDA) and trade unions (DGB), giving it a unique neutral standing across the German labor-relations spectrum.
The product portfolio is organized around a tiered curriculum: foundational training (DIE REFA-Grundausbildung), specialist certifications (REFA Process Planner, REFA Cost Analyst, REFA Operations Manager, REFA Process Engineer, REFA Industrial Engineer, REFA Ingenieur), methodology programs (Lean Six Sigma across Yellow/Green/Black/Master Black Belt levels, Lean Management, Lean Hospital), and administrative/leadership programs. Delivery occurs via three formats — open-enrollment seminars at training centers in Darmstadt and Dortmund, customized Inhouse seminars at client sites, and live interactive online seminars including the LEAN-REFA-SPRINT accelerated program. Pricing is per-seat for compact seminars (€900–€3,590 per participant) and day-rate for Inhouse contracts, with administration seminars and specialty tracks priced separately.
The business model combines professional services revenue across training, certification, and consulting. Distribution relies on direct sales via a website booking system and dedicated product managers, an inside-sales contact center, and a certified international partner network spanning approximately 20 countries (Austria, Switzerland, Egypt, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey, Tunisia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Portugal, plus additional reach) that delivers the methodology in local markets. Customer segments are diversified across manufacturing, public administration, automotive, food technology, healthcare, steel/metal, services, and multinationals. The company also markets thought leadership through blog content, whitepapers (Lean Ratgeber), email newsletters, and centenary-era events. AI-related content has been added as a new curriculum category ("KI am Arbeitsplatz") covering AI applications in production, logistics, and office workflows.
REFA Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- REFA Group
- Legal name
- REFA AG
- Website
- https://refa.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1924
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- REFA Group is a century-old German training and consulting organization delivering industrial engineering, lean management, lean six sigma, and process optimization certifications and seminars to manufacturing firms, public administration, and multiple industry verticals across approximately 20 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where REFA Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Darmstadt
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
REFA Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Professional Training Seminars: Revenue generated from open enrollment seminars delivered in-person at training centers. Pricing varies by seminar duration and content, typically ranging from 900 to 3,590 Euro per participant plus VAT.
- Inhouse Corporate Training: Customized training delivered at client facilities or online. Tailored to specific company requirements with content, format, location, and duration customized. Pricing based on day rates and seminar scope.
- Online Seminars: Live, interactive online training sessions available across the full curriculum. Provides accessibility and cost-efficiency while maintaining personal exchange.
- Certification Programs: Multi-part certification tracks (REFA Process Planner, REFA Cost Analyst, REFA Operations Manager, REFA Industrial Engineer, REFA Engineer) that build comprehensive credentials through sequential training modules.
- International Training Services: Global training delivery through international partners, available in German, English, Spanish, and other languages. Provides standardized REFA methodology training worldwide.
- Consulting Services: REFA Consulting AG provides organizational consulting, process optimization, and productivity enhancement services from top management consulting to operational process optimization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Per seat | Compact Seminars (Kompaktseminare) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Inhouse Training |
| Subscription | Per seat | Administration Seminars |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Certificate Translation |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
REFA Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
REFA Group delivers professional training seminars, multi-level certifications, and consulting in industrial engineering, lean management, lean six sigma, and process optimization. It runs an open course catalog spanning foundational REFA programs through REFA-Meister and REFA-Techniker credentials, while also providing customized inhouse training and methodology licensing to international partner institutes. The REFA Method, originated in 1924, is the central intellectual product and is endorsed by both employer associations and trade unions.
Product overview
REFA Group is a professional training and education organization with over 100 years of history, offering a comprehensive portfolio of classroom, online, and hybrid seminars and certifications. The core offerings include DIE REFA-Grundausbildung (foundational training in industrial engineering and lean management), specialized certifications (REFA-Process-Planner, REFA-Cost-Analyst, REFA-Operations-Manager, REFA-Process-Engineer, REFA-Industrial-Engineer, REFA-Ingenieur), and methodology programs (Lean Management, Lean Six Sigma with Belt certifications, Lean Hospital). Additional offerings include AI at the Workplace seminars, administrative training (REFA-Organisator, REFA-Prozessmanager in der Verwaltung), and REFA Consulting for professional process optimization services. Training is delivered through open seminars, customized Inhouse-Seminare, Hybrid-Seminare, and globally through REFA International with presence in approximately 20 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use REFA Group
Customer profileSegments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
REFA Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature7 records
REFA Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- REFA AustriacoreREFA Austria operates as a regional partner using REFA methods and experiences for market-oriented consulting services including process analysis and design for improved productivity. Offers internationally proven REFA seminars in Austria.
- REFA SwitzerlandcoreREFA Switzerland provides client-oriented consulting services and seminar programs tailored to Swiss economy needs, addressing approximately 15,000 industrial and service companies.
- TÜO Egypt Ltd.minorREFA cooperation partner in Egypt. Contact: Thomas Haberbosch. Located at 62 Hegaz Street, Heliopolis, Cairo 11341. Website: refa-egypt.com
- BIC Capital Market SPLTD (Bulgaria)minorREFA cooperation partner in Bulgaria. Located at 16-20 Alabin Str., Sofia 1000. Website: refa.bia-bg.com
- REFA Wielkopolska (Poland)minorREFA cooperation partner in Poland. Contact: Beata Nowaczyk. Located at ul. Rubież 46 / C5, 61-612 Poznań. Website: refa.pl
- DUAL PortugalminorREFA cooperation partner in Portugal. Located at Avenida Sidónio Pais, 379, 4100-468 Porto. Contact through Câmara de Comércio e Indústria Luso-Alemã. Website: dual.pt
- Universitatea Tehnica Gheorghe Asachi (Romania)minorREFA cooperation partner in Romania. Contact: Dr. Carmen Loghin. Located at Str. D. Mangeron nr. 67, 700050 Iasi. Website: tuiasi.ro
- PISK d.o.o. (Slovenia)minorREFA cooperation partner in Slovenia. Contact: Gregor Lapuh. Located at Cesta XIV. divizije 75, 2000 Maribor. Website: pisk.si
- Yalın REFA Eğitim ve Danışmanlık Ltd. Şti. (Turkey)minorREFA cooperation partner in Turkey. Contact: Nevzat Alpay. Located at Atatürk Mah. Ertuğrul Gazi Sok., Metropol Istanbul Sitesi C1 Blok, Apt No: 2 B Daire:135, Ataşehir/Istanbul.
- International Institute of Business (Ukraine)minorREFA cooperation partner in Ukraine. Contact: Yulia Isayenko. Located at 8a, Brest-Litovskyi Highway, Kyiv, 03179. Website: iib.com.ua
- WIFI Wirtschaftskammer Austria (Austria)minorREFA partner through Wirtschaftsförderungsinstitut WIFI Austria. Contact: Ing. Susanne Schilder. Located at Wiedner Hauptstr. 63, 1045 Wien. Website: wifi.at
- Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbHminorFeatured speaker at REFA 100+2 Jahre event. Jens Loock, Arbeitsdirektor (Labor Director) at Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH, presenting on industry topics.
- CSAE GmbH and Nexatron Energietechnik GmbHminorCaner Durgut, recipient of REFA-Award 2018 for his Bachelor thesis, is Managing Director of these companies in the energy sector. Presented at REFA 100+2 Jahre event.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
REFA Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- TÜV Rheinland Akademie: Part of TÜV Rheinland, one of Germany's largest technical training providers spanning quality, safety, industrial, and management topics. Comparable as a German incumbent training brand, but with a broader portfolio beyond REFA's industrial-engineering focus.
- Fraunhofer IAO: Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering, conducting research, executive education, and consulting on production, work design, and digital transformation. Adjacent to REFA on industrial engineering content but operating from a publicly funded research institute model.
- TÜV SÜD Akademie: Training arm of TÜV SÜD offering management systems, quality, and lean training across German-speaking markets. Overlaps with REFA on quality/management certification courses but is part of a much larger testing/certification conglomerate.
Regional players
- BWI Weiterbildung: German vocational and continuing education provider focused on technical and industrial training programs. Comparable as a Germany-based adult/professional training institution competing for the same manufacturing and engineering learner audience.
Direct peers
- Lean Six Sigma Institute: International Lean Six Sigma certification body with online and in-person training formats. Comparable to REFA's Lean Six Sigma offering, with similar Belt-level curriculum and pricing model aimed at individual professionals and corporate cohorts.
- DGQ - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Qualität: German quality management society offering Lean Six Sigma Belt certifications, QM auditor training, and process improvement courses. Competes directly with REFA's Lean Six Sigma and quality management training lines for the same German enterprise buyer.
- Kaizen Institute: Global lean management and continuous improvement consulting and training firm. Closely comparable to REFA Consulting AG + Lean Management product line, with overlapping methodology and target customers.
- Six Sigma Qualtec: Specialized German Lean Six Sigma training and certification provider offering Yellow through Black Belt programs. Direct competitor to REFA's Lean Six Sigma product line, particularly for the per-seat individual learner segment.
- VDI - Verein Deutscher Ingenieure: Germany's primary engineering professional association, offering industrial engineering continuing education, certifications, and standards. Directly comparable to REFA as a DACH-based technical training and credentialing body serving engineers and industrial firms.
- Staufen AG: German lean management and operational excellence consultancy with strong training and academy programs targeting German Mittelstand manufacturers. Closely comparable to REFA Consulting AG on methodology and customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
REFA Group social profiles
Digital presenceREFA Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
REFA Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
REFA Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
REFA Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
REFA Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about REFA Group
What does REFA Group do?
REFA Group delivers professional training seminars, multi-level certifications, and consulting in industrial engineering, lean management, lean six sigma, and process optimization. It runs an open course catalog spanning foundational REFA programs through REFA-Meister and REFA-Techniker credentials, while also providing customized inhouse training and methodology licensing to international partner institutes. The REFA Method, originated in 1924, is the central intellectual product and is endorsed by both employer associations and trade unions.
Is REFA Group a public or private company?
REFA Group is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was REFA Group founded?
REFA Group was founded in 1924. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is REFA Group based?
REFA Group is headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does REFA Group make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Professional Training Seminars are the primary driver. The others are inhouse Corporate Training, online Seminars, certification Programs, international Training Services and consulting Services.
Who are REFA Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are TÜV Rheinland Akademie, Fraunhofer IAO and TÜV SÜD Akademie. BWI Weiterbildung is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Lean Six Sigma Institute, DGQ - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Qualität, Kaizen Institute, Six Sigma Qualtec, VDI - Verein Deutscher Ingenieure and Staufen AG.
Does REFA Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for REFA Group.