DQS
Encyclopedia
DQS Holding GmbH based in Frankfurt am Main is the holding company
of the worldwide DQS-UL Group. The group provides assessments and certifications of management systems and processes of any type.
(German Institute for Standardization), was mainly to promote the German economy. The foundation overlapped with the publication of the first drafts of the ISO 9000
series of standards, which also include the most important quality standard worldwide today: ISO 9001.
In 1986 DQS became the first certification body in Germany to issue a certificate according to ISO 9001.
After the merger of DQS with the Management Systems Solutions (MSS) division of the American product certification body Underwriters Laboratories Inc. in March 2008, DQS-UL Group is currently one of the world's largest system certification bodies.
The company employs about 2,800 people of which 2,300 are auditors. Among the largest companies within the group are UL DQS Inc. (USA), DQS do Brasil Ltd., UL DQS Japan, DQS Medizinprodukte GmbH (Medical Devices) and DQS GmbH (both Germany).
, Hamburg
, and Stuttgart
, DQS GmbH offers the entire service spectrum of the group in Germany. With over 200 employees and about 800 auditors, it is the largest subsidiary of DQS Holding GmbH. Managing Director is Michael Drechsel.
In addition, the group also offers assessments in the areas of Risk Management Systems, Sustainability
, Energy Management, Education
, Data Privacy, Business Excellence
, Health and Social Services, and Integrated Management Systems.
Various selected DQS Websites
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
of the worldwide DQS-UL Group. The group provides assessments and certifications of management systems and processes of any type.
History
DQS was founded in 1985 in Frankfurt am Main and was the first German certification body. The aim of the founding partners, DGQ (German Society for Quality) and DINDin
DIN or Din or din can have several meanings:* A din is a loud noise.* Dīn, an Arabic term meaning "religion" or "way of life".* Din is one of the ten aspects of the Ein Sof in Kabbalah ....
(German Institute for Standardization), was mainly to promote the German economy. The foundation overlapped with the publication of the first drafts of the ISO 9000
ISO 9000
The ISO 9000 family of standards relates to quality management systems and is designed to help organizations ensure they meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders . The standards are published by ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, and available through National...
series of standards, which also include the most important quality standard worldwide today: ISO 9001.
In 1986 DQS became the first certification body in Germany to issue a certificate according to ISO 9001.
After the merger of DQS with the Management Systems Solutions (MSS) division of the American product certification body Underwriters Laboratories Inc. in March 2008, DQS-UL Group is currently one of the world's largest system certification bodies.
Corporate Organization
DQS Holding GmbH has more than 80 offices in over 60 countries, which form a network for the realization of international projects. DQS-UL group currently has about 20,000 certified customers across almost all industries with approximately 47,000 certified locations in over 100 countries.The company employs about 2,800 people of which 2,300 are auditors. Among the largest companies within the group are UL DQS Inc. (USA), DQS do Brasil Ltd., UL DQS Japan, DQS Medizinprodukte GmbH (Medical Devices) and DQS GmbH (both Germany).
DQS GmbH in Germany
Headquartered in Frankfurt am Main and with local offices in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, and Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, DQS GmbH offers the entire service spectrum of the group in Germany. With over 200 employees and about 800 auditors, it is the largest subsidiary of DQS Holding GmbH. Managing Director is Michael Drechsel.
Service spectrum
The international offices of DQS-UL Group focus their portfolio of assessment services on their respective market situation and customer requirements. The group’s service spectrum includes cross-industry assessments to customer or industry-specific requirements and certifications to more than 100 nationally and internationally recognized standards and specifications. Among the most important scopes and standards are:- ISO 9001 (Quality)
- ISO 14001 (EnvironmentNatural environmentThe natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
)
- BS OHSAS 18001 (Occupational safety and healthOccupational safety and healthOccupational safety and health is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with protecting the safety, health and welfare of people engaged in work or employment. The goal of all occupational safety and health programs is to foster a safe work environment...
)
- ISO/TS 16949 (Automotive)
- ISO 27001 (Information SecurityInformation securityInformation security means protecting information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, perusal, inspection, recording or destruction....
)
- ISO 13485ISO 13485ISO 13485 is an ISO standard, published in 2003, that represents the requirements for a comprehensive management system for the design and manufacture of medical devices...
(Medical Devices)
- IRIS (International Railway Industry Standard)IRIS (International Railway Industry Standard)IRIS - International Railway Industry Standard is promoted by UNIFE and supported by operators, system integrators and equipment manufacturers, IRIS complements the internationally recognized ISO 9001 quality standard introducing rail specific requirements.IRIS is modeled on similar quality...
(Railway Industry)
- EN 9100ff (AerospaceAerospaceAerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
)
In addition, the group also offers assessments in the areas of Risk Management Systems, Sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
, Energy Management, Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, Data Privacy, Business Excellence
Business excellence
Business excellence is the systematic use of quality management principles and tools in business management, with the goal of improving performance based on the principles of customer focus, stakeholder value, and process management...
, Health and Social Services, and Integrated Management Systems.
Approach
The group’s approach is unique in that assessment services are mainly provided by external auditors on a fee basis. The auditors generally work in the industry sector which they assess. This combination of certification and industry knowledge with practical and scientific experience is meant to ensure that assessments are performed using the most up-to-date, state of the art know-how from the respective industry sector.Network
DQS is a charter and full member of the international certification network IQNet Association which was founded in 1990. The main objective of the currently 36-member global network is the mutual recognition of certificates issued by the member companies. The current Managing Director of DQS GmbH, Michael Drechsel, is currently President of the network.External links
Various selected DQS Websites
- http://www.dqs-ul.com/en/ DQS USA
- http://www.dqs-ul.com/ DQS International Website
- http://www.dqs-ul.de/ DQS Germany