Professional services
UnclaimedAn international, independently operated certification and assessment group specializing in management systems, products, processes, and regulatory conformity.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
DQS is an international certification, audit, inspection, and assessment organization headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The group operates legally through DQS Holding GmbH and serves organizations that need independent evaluation against management-system standards, sector requirements, customer specifications, regulatory frameworks, and sustainability or supply-chain criteria. Its work spans quality, environmental management, occupational health and safety, information security, energy management, food safety, automotive and aerospace requirements, medical-device conformity, corporate responsibility, and emerging technology standards. The organization was established in Berlin in 1985 as Deutsche Gesellschaft für Qualitätssicherung. It was created by the German Society for Quality, DGQ, and the German Institute for Standardization, DIN, during the period when the ISO 9000 family was being developed. DQS began operating on 1 February 1985 and became the first German certification body focused on management systems. In 1986 it issued Germany’s first certificate according to ISO 9001. This early position gave DQS a foundational role in the development of third-party management-system certification in Germany and helped establish its international identity. DQS expanded beyond Germany during the following decade. In 1990 it helped found EQNet, now known as IQNet, a network intended to support international recognition of certificates as industrial activity became more global. In 1991 DQS became the first German certification body accredited for ISO 9001, ISO 9002, and ISO 9003 by TGA, the predecessor of today’s German Accreditation Body, DAkkS. Its first foreign subsidiary, DQS do Brasil, was established in São Paulo in 1994. The group broadened its technical scope through specialist units and international consolidation. It created a medical-device competence center in 1995 and later established DQS Medizinprodukte GmbH. In 2008, DQS combined its management-systems certification business with the corresponding division of Underwriters Laboratories, substantially increasing its presence in North America, Asia, and Europe. The transaction created one of the larger international management-system certification networks of its time. DQS subsequently added services for sustainability, corporate responsibility, supply chains, cybersecurity, food and consumer products, and other specialized fields. Today, DQS operates through a network of offices, subsidiaries, and licensing arrangements. The group reported approximately 80 offices in about 60 countries and worked with more than 3,100 qualified auditors in 2023. Its customer base includes manufacturers, healthcare companies, logistics providers, food businesses, technology companies, public-sector organizations, and other enterprises seeking certificates, conformity assessments, audits, or independent verification. DQS remains positioned as a technically specialized, standards-based third-party service provider rather than as a consumer-facing product brand.
History
DQS was founded in Berlin in 1985 by DGQ and DIN as Deutsche Gesellschaft für Qualitätssicherung. Its establishment coincided with the early development of the ISO 9000 standards, at a time when German industry was seeking credible and internationally recognized approaches to quality assurance. DQS began work on 1 February 1985 and became Germany’s first certification body dedicated to management systems. In 1986 it issued the first German certificate under ISO 9001, helping establish third-party certification as a practical mechanism for demonstrating conformity with internationally recognized quality requirements. The company changed its name to Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Zertifizierung von Managementsystemen as its management-system certification role became central to its business. DQS also pursued international cooperation early. In 1990 it became a founding member of EQNet, the network now known as IQNet. The network was intended to address the international nature of manufacturing and commerce by enabling cooperation and mutual recognition among certification bodies. In 1991 DQS became the first certification body in Germany accredited by TGA GmbH for ISO 9001, ISO 9002, and ISO 9003; TGA’s accreditation functions were later associated with DAkkS. International expansion followed with the creation of DQS do Brasil in São Paulo in 1994. DQS also developed a specialist medical-device capability. It established a competence center for medical devices in 1995 and later formed DQS Medizinprodukte GmbH, which became a major vehicle for certification and conformity-assessment work in healthcare and related regulated industries. A major structural change occurred in 2008, when DQS merged with the management-systems certification division of Underwriters Laboratories. The combination expanded DQS’s reach in Europe, Asia, and North and South America, and created a network with more than 60 offices in over 40 countries. DQS opened DQS UK Ltd in Brentford in January 2009, its twentieth European office, and by 2010 reported more than 60 offices in over 50 countries and approximately 45,000 certified sites. During the 2010s DQS developed mechanisms to manage multinational customers and broadened its sector portfolio. It created a Global Account Management unit in 2014 to coordinate international customer relationships. In 2017 it introduced the Qualified Carrier certification scheme, developed with logistics-sector representatives and directed particularly at small and medium-sized transport companies. The group also expanded its assessment work in sustainability, corporate responsibility, supply-chain integrity, information security, food safety, automotive quality, aerospace, energy, and business continuity. In January 2023 DQS formed a strategic partnership with the VDE Testing and Certification Institute. The cooperation was designed to support joint management-system certification and cross-border services. DQS’s current network combines its holding company, specialized subsidiaries, country organizations, and licensed operations. Its portfolio includes conventional ISO certification, sector-specific schemes, medical-device conformity assessment under European rules, and evaluations connected with environmental, social, governance, cybersecurity, and emerging-technology requirements. The group’s reported 2023 network comprised approximately 80 offices in about 60 countries, 968 employees, and more than 3,100 qualified auditors.
- 2026
Malaysia and Singapore operations integrated
[1]DQS integrates its Malaysian and Singaporean operations as wholly owned subsidiaries after earlier licensing-partner arrangements.
- 2023
Strategic cooperation with VDE
[1]DQS and the VDE Testing and Certification Institute establish a partnership for joint and cross-border management-system certification.
- 2017
Qualified Carrier scheme introduced
[1]DQS launches a logistics certification scheme developed with sector representatives and aimed especially at smaller transport companies.
- 2014
Global Account Management unit created
[1]DQS creates a unit to coordinate international customer business and multinational accounts.
- 2009
DQS UK Ltd opens
[1]DQS opens an office in Brentford, establishing its twentieth European office.
- 2008
Management-systems business combines with UL division
[1]DQS merges with Underwriters Laboratories’ management-systems certification division, expanding its international network.
- 1995
Medical-device competence established
[1]DQS creates a competence center for medical devices and begins building its specialist healthcare certification capability.
- 1994
First foreign subsidiary established
[1]DQS establishes DQS do Brasil in São Paulo, beginning its direct subsidiary expansion outside Germany.
- 1991
Early German accreditation for ISO standards
[1]DQS becomes the first German certification body accredited by TGA for ISO 9001, ISO 9002, and ISO 9003.
- 1990
Founding of EQNet, now IQNet
[1]DQS joins other certification organizations in founding an international network for cooperation and certificate recognition.
Products and positioning
Independent, standards-based third-party certification and assessment provider serving international organizations and regulated industries.
Quality, environmental, safety, and management systems · 1985
Management-system certification
DQS audits and certifies organizations against widely used management-system standards, including ISO 9001 for quality, ISO 14001 for environmental management, ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety, ISO 50001 for energy management, ISO 22301 for business continuity, and ISO 37001 for anti-bribery management. The service typically combines document review, on-site or remote auditing, corrective-action evaluation, and periodic surveillance.
Information security and digital assurance
Information and cybersecurity assessments
DQS provides certification and assessment services for information-security and automotive cybersecurity requirements. Its portfolio includes ISO 27001, TISAX, and ENX VCS-related assessments, helping organizations evaluate governance, risk controls, data protection, and security practices across enterprise and vehicle-related environments.
Healthcare and regulated products · 1995
Medical-device certification and conformity assessment
Through DQS Medizinprodukte GmbH, DQS serves medical-device manufacturers and related organizations with ISO 13485 certification, MDSAP assessments, and conformity-assessment activities connected with European medical-device requirements. The unit is identified as a notified body for medical devices and supports regulatory evaluation for products within its designated scope.
Sustainability and corporate responsibility
Sustainability and supply-chain assessments
DQS assesses environmental, social, ethical, and supply-chain practices through services including ISO 14001, ISO 14064, ESG audits, GRI-related work, SEDEX SMETA, and corporate-responsibility evaluations. These services are intended to provide independent evidence for customers, regulators, investors, and business partners.
Food, feed, and consumer products
Food and consumer-product certification
DQS certifies and assesses food, feed, packaging, and consumer-product organizations against schemes such as FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, IFS Food, and BRCGS programs. The work addresses food-safety management, production controls, supply-chain requirements, and product or site-specific assurance.
Logistics certification · 2017
Qualified Carrier
Qualified Carrier is a certification scheme introduced for logistics companies, with particular relevance to small and medium-sized transport businesses. It was developed with representatives of the logistics sector and is intended to provide a structured assessment framework for carrier quality and operational reliability.
Brand decisions
2023
Strategic partnership with VDEStrategyBackground
Cross-border customers require certification capabilities spanning management systems and technical conformity services.
Action taken
DQS entered a strategic partnership with the VDE Testing and Certification Institute for joint management-system certification services.
Aftermath
The cooperation enabled joint and cross-border certification activities.
2014
Creation of Global Account ManagementStrategyBackground
Large customers increasingly operated across multiple countries and needed coordinated certification relationships.
Action taken
DQS established a Global Account Management unit to coordinate international customer business.
Aftermath
The unit supported a more centralized approach to multinational customer accounts.
2008
Combination with Underwriters Laboratories’ management-systems divisionM&ABackground
DQS sought to increase its international scale and strengthen its presence in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Action taken
DQS merged with the management-systems certification division of Underwriters Laboratories.
Aftermath
The combined organization became one of the larger global management-system certification networks, with more than 60 offices in over 40 countries at the time.
Recent events
Gerresheimer receives Sustainability Heroes Award[3]
Gerresheimer was selected for the Sustainability Heroes Award in the Sustainability Strategy category. The award winners were honored during the conference held October 26–28, 2021.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
DQS launches sustainable printing and packaging services in India[4]
DQS launched sustainable printing and packaging guidelines, audits, and certifications for India under its DQS SPP services.
Sources4 sources
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