Semco

Semco is a name used by several companies and organizations around the world. The most widely known is Semco S.A., a Brazilian diversified group that gained international attention in the late 20th century for adopting a participative, decentralized management approach under the leadership of Ricardo Semler. The Semco model emphasized employee autonomy, flexible work arrangements, open-book accounting, cross-functional teams, and egalitarian decision-making across many business units. The approach has been widely cited in management literature as an example of radical, human-centric governance and organizational experimentation. Semco operates in multiple sectors, including manufacturing equipment, engineering services, and other industrial activities, with operations in Brazil and internationally.

Other uses of the name include SEMCO Energy Corporation, a United States–based energy company that provides natural gas service in parts of Michigan; and Semco Maritime, a Danish firm that offers engineering, procurement, and construction services to the offshore oil and gas, wind, and related sectors. There are also various smaller entities in different industries that use the Semco brand.

See also references commonly point to discussions of unconventional management practices and corporate governance, as well as regional utility and engineering firms bearing the Semco name. While the best-known Semco case relates to the Brazilian group’s management philosophy, the name's usage spans multiple countries and industries, reflecting its broad branding rather than a single corporate identity.