Responsibility in everyday actions – trust, competence and a safe working environment as the foundation of Sako’s quality

Sako is a Finnish success story of more than 100 years, at the heart of which is our unique way of combining technology and product design with traditional craftsmanship. We are one of the world’s most respected rifle and cartridge manufacturers, also globally. In a tightly regulated industry, the requirements for safety, reliability and uncompromising quality are exceptionally high. These qualities are born through strong professional skill and cooperation. Published this year, Sako’s first-ever public Responsibility Report 2025 makes visible what has long been the company’s driving force: everything is built on the wellbeing, competence and safety of our personnel. Sako’s history of more than a hundred years and its membership in an international group provide a strong financial backbone for our work. When the foundation is stable, attention can be turned to the long-term development of quality, safety and personnel.

A culture of trust and appreciative leadership

Sako’s entire business rests on trust. Authorities, partners and customers must be able to rely on the products even in the most extreme conditions, and this same requirement is strongly reflected in our internal culture too. In our employees’ everyday work, this shows as appreciative leadership, a flat hierarchy and open interaction all the way up to top management. At Sako, leadership and supervisory work are developed with clear intent. Everyday leadership is guided by our Leadership Focus principles, which our supervisors have actively helped to create.

For us, a culture of trust means giving and taking responsibility. Our employees give credit for the autonomy and the freedom to influence the planning of their own work. Yet no one is left alone – the support of a supervisor and the team is always available. At Sako, we have succeeded in building a healthy and safe atmosphere in which possible mistakes are not hidden and matters are not handled by pointing an accusing finger. The high quality standards of our products strongly guide our work, so any deviations must be addressed immediately. Challenges are seen as shared learning opportunities, where we consider how a process or product can be improved. We also actively invest in breaking down silos between different units and departments. In expert work, we emphasise meeting people and increasing understanding of how each person’s own work and the work of different teams affect the whole.

The foundation of an appreciative atmosphere and psychological safety is also an absolute zero tolerance for bullying, harassment and inappropriate behaviour. Trust is built through openness, and for any possible misconduct or grievances we have created an anonymous First Whistle reporting channel, which allows everyone to raise concerns. Caring for employees extends beyond physical safety to mental wellbeing. We offer employees low-threshold preventive support services, such as the Mielen Chat and Auntie services. In addition, we are involved in a Finnish Institute of Occupational Health project to manage psychosocial strain.

Developing competence is a continuous journey

World-famous products require world-famous competence. At Sako, we recognise that the development of technology and a changing world require continuous learning. Competence is one of Sako’s most important competitive strengths and a central part of our culture, because we believe our company grows as our people grow. Employees are encouraged to develop themselves, whether it is completing further studies alongside work, taking on new responsibilities or moving to entirely new roles within the company. In production work, we invest in job rotation and the development of multi-skilling. In spring 2025, we introduced a separate competence allowance in our production roles.

Regular one-to-one discussions between supervisors and team members help identify everyone’s potential. In addition, the company has a low-threshold idea system through which anyone can suggest improvements, and the best ideas are quickly put into practice to smooth everyday work.

Safety and uncompromising quality as everyday actions

In an industrial environment, occupational safety is at the core of leadership and operating culture. Our long-term goal for occupational safety is zero accidents, but in employees’ everyday work, safety thinking is seamlessly interwoven with product quality as well. Among employees there is a strong pride that problems are solved sustainably, right down to their root causes, and temporary fixes are not accepted – quality simply cannot be compromised.

The backbone of the safety culture is a low threshold for making observations and learning together. In 2025, we set a target of 1,000 safety observations, but our employees recorded as many as 1,294 of them. This exceptional activity shows that safety is seen as a shared matter and as caring for a colleague. In a financially solid company, there is also a genuine opportunity to invest in safety, ergonomics and modern technology, which shows to employees as clear improvements in everyday working conditions. This active work was rewarded in 2025 with a new record: 204 consecutive days without a workplace accident.

Low-threshold observation extends beyond safety to environmental responsibility as well. In 2025, our employees made 160 environmental observations, on the basis of which operations are developed.

Towards sustainable working life

A sense of community and everyday encounters are also supported through concrete investments. In 2025, the staff recreation committee began its work, and in August 2026 a new building of more than 500 square metres, with an 80-seat staff restaurant, was completed at the Riihimäki factory site to improve encounters between employees and to serve those working shifts.

Responsible employership is continuous improvement and everyday action. At Sako, a strong historical heritage and top expertise come together. The first public responsibility report is an important milestone that makes visible not only the key figures but also the human culture that binds Sako’s people together. It is a sign that the company wants to be a forerunner in its field not only in its products, but also in how it looks after its people.

Get to know Sako as an employer: rekry.sako.fi