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Who we are

Leveraging Quality, Driving Success.

DQS is one of the top 10 certification providers worldwide, recognized globally by accreditation bodies and industry leaders as a trusted authority in the auditing and assessment of management systems. In the medical field, DQS operates as a Notified Body under the EU MDR – a role that reflects the high level of trust placed in our organization by authorities and clients alike.

For more than 40 years, we have been helping organizations build trust, drive innovation, and achieve sustainable growth – by turning certification into a lever for long-term success. Founded on a commitment to quality, reliability, and transparency, DQS enables companies to manage risk, demonstrate accountability, and unlock new opportunities in an ever-evolving world. As a future-focused, customer-driven organization, we are working to drive a cultural shift in the certification industry — one that embraces digital processes and supports positive societal transformation.

Our expertise covers a wide range of industries and standards, including cybersecurity, AI governance, ESG compliance, supply chain due diligence, and future mobility.

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DQS at a glance

Founded: 1985 — independent and globally oriented from the start
Headquarters: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Global Presence: 80+ offices across 60+ countries
Auditors: 3,000+ industry experts worldwide
Certified Clients: 35,000+ organizations in 130+ countries

Why organizations choose DQS

Key Standards and Audit Programs:

Navigate complex requirements with confidence through trusted certification, audit, and assurance services.

Quality Management

ISO 9001 Certification

Quality management system for continuous improvement

Medical Devices

ISO 13485 Certification

Quality management systems for medical devices

Environmental management

ISO 14001 Certification

How organizations sustainably promote operational environmental protection

Food Safety

ISO 22000 Certification

Demonstrate compliance with the highest standards for hygiene and safety.

Compliance and Due Diligence

ISO 22301 Certification

Prepare your organization for exceptional situations

Information Security and Data Protection

ISO 27001 Certification

Information security for the high protection of your organizational data

Compliance and Due Diligence

ISO 37001 Certification

Certify your anti-bribery management with the ISO 37001 standard

Information Security and Data Protection

ISO/IEC 42001 Certification

Elevate safety in AIMS with the ISO/IEC 42001 Certificate from DQS Inc. Tailored for training providers, this certifiable standard sets the benchmark for safety and technical training in AI use.

Occupational Health and Safety

ISO 45001 Certification

Achieve the best possible occupational safety for your employees

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What drives us

We believe certification should do more than confirm conformity. It should empower performance, simplify complexity, and strengthen stakeholder confidence—today and for what’s next. These convictions guide how we plan audits, how we interact on site and online, and how we report findings—in a way that is impartial, transparent, and genuinely useful.

A brief history

DQS was founded in 1985, the very year the first drafts of the ISO 9000 family were published – marking the beginning of globally harmonized quality management. As Germany’s first independent certification body for management systems, DQS played a pioneering role from day one, with close ties to standard-setting bodies like DIN (German Institute for Standardization) and DGQ (German Society for Quality), which are DQS’ founding organizations.

Building on its expanding international activities since the 1990s, DQS gradually developed from a German pioneer into a globally active certification body. As subsidiaries and offices were established across Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, the company laid the foundation for today’s worldwide presence. A major milestone in this evolution was the integration of the entire management systems certification business of Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in 2008, which significantly strengthened DQS’ footprint in the United States and broadened the Group’s global expertise.

Over the years, we have continuously evolved – becoming a digitally connected, globally harmonized organization committed to strengthening trust, compliance, and performance across industries. Today, more than 80 offices in over 60 countries work together under the umbrella of the DQS Group, enabling us to deliver globally aligned standards with locally rooted expertise.

As a founding member of IQNET, we help ensure that our certificates are globally recognized and locally relevant.

Leadership — shaping direction, driving impact

Together, the leadership team navigates DQS’s strategic course, reinforcing our promise of impartiality, reliability, and forward momentum. Each leader contributes specialized expertise while working closely across functions to deliver seamless customer value.

Executive Board

Ingo M. Rübenach, CEO

Ingo guides DQS with a vision for growth, digital transformation, and organizational excellence. He champions innovation, customer focus, and the alignment of DQS’s global and local efforts.

Markus Ritzauer, CFO