Quality is task and goal

The main topic around which everything revolves at the Deutsche Gütegemeinschaft Möbel e.V. (DGM), based in Fürth, is the quality of furniture. Because quality in furniture is strongly related to the quality of life in the home. The credibility of a quality standard depends on various factors.

  • Quality" must be defined comprehensively and must not exclude the environment and health.
  • A standard must always be updated to take into account the latest findings in science and life.
  • Compliance with quality criteria must be monitored neutrally and continuously.

Within the framework of this overall quality objective, the principle of the Deutsche Gütegemeinschaft Möbel e.V. (DGM) is clearly defined by RAL, the umbrella organisation: "A quality association is an association of companies that have set themselves the goal of quality assurance for their products and services and voluntarily accept the associated requirements and obligations. "In concrete terms, this means: furniture manufacturers voluntarily have their furniture tested according to the current quality and testing regulations of the DGM (according to RAL-GZ 430). The tests are carried out by neutral, independent institutes.

If the furniture has passed all tests for durability, material quality, longevity, safety and health compatibility and the manufacturer can prove that he keeps his production at the same quality level, the DGM awards the RAL quality mark for furniture. This "Golden M", firmly attached to a piece of furniture as a tag or sticker, means for the furniture buyer: this is tested quality that he can rely on. The significance of this quality mark will become even greater in the future, as consumer demands on quality have also risen sharply.

To ensure that the quality standard is always in line with the latest scientific findings, the quality and testing regulations for furniture are constantly being revised. The Quality Committee within the Deutsche Gütegemeinschaft Möbel e.V. is responsible for this. In turn, it exchanges information with various working groups that bring together specialists for individual types of furniture and areas (e.g. environment and health).

The furniture manufacturers who are members of the German Furniture Quality Association (Deutsche Gütegemeinschaft Möbel e.V.) not only have to adapt their furniture quality to the constantly updated regulations; they also undertake to have furniture tests carried out "off the shelf".

But what use is it to the consumer if he knows about the quality but does not know the details? That is why the Deutsche Gütegemeinschaft Möbel e.V. introduced product information for furniture. But the DGM wants to educate the furniture buyer even more. This has been done so far, for example, with the book "Ratgeber Möbel kaufen - Qualität erkennen". The DGM has already produced the 4th updated edition of this book together with Stiftung Warentest, as well as the UBA furniture brochure "Gesund und umweltfreundlich einrichten".

The other way to achieve this goal is to test and monitor the quality of furniture, made visible by the "Golden M". It is the only officially recognised quality mark for furniture in Germany and it is the strictest proof of tested furniture quality and safety in Europe.