Who Are We

Brief History

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 55,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,000 offices and laboratories around the world. Originally founded in 1878 in Rouen as a French grain shipment inspection house, under the name of Goldstϋck, Hainzé & Co, the Company was registered in Geneva as Société Générale de Surveillance in 1919. Growth was by agglomerations of various companies which until 2002 had a great degree of autonomy. Shares of SGS were first listed on (SWX) Swiss Exchange in 1985. Since 2001, SGS has only one class of shares consisting of registered shares. There are currently four significant shareholder groups; August von Finck and family (23.7%), IFIL investment (13.2%), Allianz SE (7.4%) and FMR Corp (5.57%).

What Makes SGS Different?

Working Across Industries

SGS provides services across a range of industries from agriculture to automotive, food to forestry and many others. Our specialists are trained in these distinct sectors yet are used to interacting across geographies, markets and cultures, so that we can deliver vertical integration and horizontal cover.

Thinking Globally

SGS is a global company with over 1,000 offices worldwide. Our presence helps clients make global decisions and apply global standards. Just as importantly, we have over 55,000 highly skilled employees ready to be where they are needed, when they are needed.

Acting Locally

We believe that local clients need local solutions. That’s why we have the best local talent and services. They are flexible enough to react to individual needs, but have access to the broadest global tools and networks.

Covering Supply Chains

Supply and value chains are becoming more complex but also more integrated and are continuously changing. As a consequence, clients are looking for efficient ways to assure the quality, value and origin of goods. SGS services are designed to create greater clarity in all aspects of transactions from raw materials to finished products.

Using the Right Technology

Technology itself isn’t the answer – it’s the right technology that counts. We are constantly renewing our systems and tools to bring better technology systems to the field, to laboratories and into our offices.

Our Culture of Integrity

Integrity is at the core of the business of the SGS Group, it is the common thread through all our activities.

Why SGS? Delivering a Competitive Edge

By Enhancing Quality

To stay competitive, businesses are looking for new and better ways to improve quality and efficiency while at the same time lowering costs. At SGS, we provide a range of flexible services that allow clients to measure and then improve systems, services and processes.

By Reducing Risk

At SGS, we work closely with our clients to ensure the best possible risk-management solutions. We can be their ‘eyes and ears’ anywhere in the world. By creating trust between all parties, we can help improve margins and make business faster and simpler.

By Improving Productivity

Our core services cut waste and rework; they can also reduce cycle times and optimise inventory. Clients use us to help streamline their processes or they outsource to us to create economies of scale. We can help clients enhance productivity by ensuring that inspection, verification, testing and certification are more streamlined, modular and interconnected.

By Ensuring Compliance

Increasing regulatory requirements are a reality facing all businesses, and the contractual obligations that these entail are often complex. We bring clarity to transactions and facilitate compliance by market, industry, region or between parties. In this way, compliance can translate into market confidence, freeing clients to concentrate on core business needs.