Frequently asked questions

The S-Rating is valid for a maximum of up to six years. The procedure has to be completed again after the S-Rating has expired at the latest.

Yes, you can improve the result of your S-Rating at any time. Use the suggestions for improvements from NQC to do this. You can find these in the questionnaire after you log in.

The self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ) reviews your company using the following key criteria: Code of Conduct, working conditions and human rights, occupational health and safety, corporate ethics, and environment. If you already actively promote these areas in your company and can furnish appropriate proof, answering the questionnaire should not pose any difficulties.

You can contact NQC at any time if you have technical questions about the platform and the SAQ by sending an email to auto.support@nqc.com, by calling +44 845 299 2996 or via live chat.

We will answer your questions about the S-Rating at s-rating@audi.de.

You have the option of downloading the current questionnaire, SAQ 5.0, as a PDF file and discussing the questions in advance with your colleagues. It also makes sense to look at the documents to be furnished as proof in the questionnaire in advance and check that they are complete and up to date. The subsequent review of your answers in the self-assessment questionnaire generally takes five work days and cannot be sped up.

The sustainability rating (S-Rating) is now visible for your company location on the homepage area of the ONE.KBP. You can find your S-Rating below your profile details.

Please note that the S-Rating is a location-based rating and that you will only be able to see the S-Rating for the company location that you are currently logged on for.

If you would like to see detailed information about your rating, please select "Further information" below "My S-Rating”.

The self-assessment questionnaire has to be filled out in principle by all companies that would like to enter into a business relationship with us. Companies that employ fewer than 10 people are exempt from the disclosure obligation. They can arrange to be exempted from participating in the S-Rating.

The self-assessment questionnaire is necessary so that we can gain insights into your commitment to the environment and your social conduct. As a global corporation, sustainability is a core element of the production process at Audi, irrespective of the location or its size. In order to ensure that our business partners share the same approach, they under go the S-Rating procedure at the start of the business relationship. Only a positive S-Rating constitutes the basis for cooperation.

A time limit has not been set for filling out the SAQ. Please note, however, that the audit by NQC generally takes five work days. Please include these days in your calculations if you are in the middle of a bidding phase for a call for tenders.

Registering on the platform and completing the SAQ are free of charge for you.

SAQ 5.0 provides the option of answering in six languages: German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Chinese (Mandarin).

Yes, the catalog of questions in the SAQ is revised on a regular basis and new questions are added. As soon as a new version of the SAQ is available, all suppliers are required to fill out the questionnaire again.

The DUNS number is a unique numerical code that is used to clearly identify a company. The DUNS number (Data Universal Numbering System) was developed by Dun & Bradstreet and is now regarded as an international standard.

You will receive the code inviting you to take part in the S-Rating from us by email. The code will be issued to you after you have successfully registered on the ONE.Group Business Platform of the Volkswagen Group. Please enter the invitation code before filling out the SAQ on the supplierassurance.com platform. 

Participation in the S-Rating and also the related steps are free of charge for you.

The review of the questionnaire by NQC generally takes five work days. In this step, checks are carried out to see whether the documents you have uploaded to provide verification for your answers are valid. You cannot edit the SAQ during this period.

With a declaration of principles, you emphasize the meaning of a certain topic for your company and at the same time increase its significance. Furthermore, it provides your employees with guidance for aligning their own actions to the corporate objectives. As a binding frame of reference for external and internal partners, a declaration of principles highlights at a glance the values and standards that underpin your company.

A declaration of principles should be understood as a commitment to complying with applicable laws and international standards. The contents focus on the issues that are most relevant to your company, define targets for these, and lay down corresponding responsibilities. As a sign of transparency and openness, a declaration of principles is furthermore a commitment to an open exchange of views with internal and external partners.

A declaration of principles can focus on a specific subject area or cover different subject areas. The correct form for your company depends among other things on the size of your company, your risk exposure, requirements arising from management systems, and external requirements. A formally correct declaration of principles contains your company logo as well as what the current version is. Furthermore, the executive management commits to the declaration of principles and its contents by signing it. The area of application for example for subsidiaries is also an integral part of a complete declaration of principles.

You use the declaration of principles for internal and external communication by making it available to view for example on your website. Additionally, the declaration of principles should be a fixed and integral part of compulsory training programs, for example for new hires. The declaration of principles serves as a basis for describing procedures and processes that are used to deal with the corresponding subject areas. It is therefore important that the declaration of principles is revised and updated on a regular basis.

An on-site check is generally arranged only if NQC identifies inconsistencies or major gaps or omissions when reviewing your SAQ. The location-specific review takes place only if the result of the SAQ suggests an increased sustainability risk.

Participation in the on-site check is free of charge for you.

The on-site check is about inspecting the practical implementation of the information you have provided in the SAQ. It is intended to help you identify deficiencies that negatively impact the S-Rating and to show you actions that you can take to remedy these deficiencies. The on-site check is a supplement to the SAQ but does not release you from your obligation to continuously improve the self-assessment questionnaire.

In principle, the on-site check is valid for up to five years.

If you do not agree with the deficiencies recorded in the report, please state this during the final meeting with the assessor. By subsequently signing the report, you confirm that you agree with the deficiencies that have been identified and that the report may be sent to us. If you subsequently have questions about the final report, please contact us or our service provider.

The Corrective Action Plan (CAP) is a catalog of measures that the sustainability assessor that we have commissioned draws up after inspecting the factory premises. The assessor will discuss with you during the final meeting all of the deficiencies that are identified in the plan and how these can be remedied. By signing the plan, you confirm that you have taken note of it and give your consent that this report can be sent to us.

Yes, you have the possibility of remedying deficiencies identified during the on-site check by implementing the measures recommended in the Corrective Action Plan (CAP). The implementation of the measures will be reviewed by our service provider and us in what is known as a reaudit.