Responsibility for quality, support from the team

Elina’s everyday work in assembly

For Elina, a Riihimäki local, Sako was already a familiar name, but starting work at the company just under three years ago opened up a whole new world. Today she works in assembly and helps out in the packing room when needed.

The journey at Sako has been continuous learning. Elina started at the component factory in quality control of cartridge cases, moved from there to finishing at the rifle factory, and finally into her current role.

Quality is a matter of honour

Working at Sako requires a certain kind of character. The work is a combination of modern industry and traditional craftsmanship, in which precision is at the centre of the work. Production quality deviations are monitored daily according to precisely defined models and metrics. Elina emphasises that quality does not happen by itself – it requires every employee to take responsibility.

It feels really great and motivates a lot. You have to take responsibility for the result of your own work. You can’t think ‘I’ll just dash this off and get my pay’ – you really have to be precise.

Elina

The work requires perseverance, keen eyesight and dexterity. On the military side in particular, the quality requirements are strict, and every stage is closely monitored. The sooner a possible mistake is spotted, the better waste is avoided.

A work community like a second family

One of the best sides of Elina’s work is the close-knit, relaxed work community. In teams of around ten people, communication works well and the threshold for asking for help is low. Help is asked for with a low threshold, and it is also encouraged.

We have a relaxed vibe. We chat about everything, including things outside of working life. It is a bit like coming into a second family. Whatever problem comes up, you can always ask someone else. There is no threshold that would feel embarrassing. Things and methods change quickly, so communication is a lifeline.

Elina

Elina is also a member of the company’s recreation committee, which organises events and brings the crew even closer together. The staff recreation committee started its work in 2025. Among other things, the committee has already run a sports taster session, a “Back to work” event after the summer holiday season, and Christmas parties.

Developing your own competence

At Sako, there is a strong investment in job rotation and in developing multi-skilling. Multi-skilling is used partly to ensure the smoothness of production and cover during absences. In addition, the practice supports employees’ motivation as their tasks broaden and diversify, and it brings variety and interesting challenges to the work. At Sako, a new employee is not expected to know everything straight away. Elina praises the company’s good onboarding, which gives room to learn without the stress of performance pressure. Her own path is an excellent example of this: the fear of stepping into the din of the machines quickly turned into confidence and new skills. Elina has also recently qualified as an onboarding trainer.

It is great to have been given the chance to develop. Now that I have been trained as an onboarding trainer myself, it is easy to put myself in a new employee’s shoes and think about how best to guide them.

Elina

Financial strength brings security

Sako is a well-known landmark in Riihimäki and a stable employer. For Elina, the company’s long history and financially solid position mean above all security. Even though there have been more challenging times along the way, her trust in the big company has remained.

Financial strength helps create the security of having a job. Even though there were layoffs soon after I started, I didn’t get stressed. I knew this is a big company and it was just a phase. I’m looking forward to the projects and factory expansions ahead. It is great to be part of this continuum.

Elina

Pride in one’s own work

Elina admits that working in the firearms industry carries a certain air of mystery that outsiders often ask about. Even though she can’t talk about everything, pride in her own skills and in top-class Finnish products is clear to see. The interest has also carried over into her free time. She has obtained her own firearms licences, and her cabinet now holds both a Sako rifle and a Beretta shotgun.

According to Elina, the company suits a person who is precise, wants to work with their hands, and dares to take responsibility for the result of their work.

Here you get to grow and develop, as long as you have the desire to learn new things,” she sums up.

Elina