In the manufacturing industry, a production foreman oversees the daily operations and workflow of a production environment. This person may be in charge of different levels of supervision, specific duties, or a broad range of responsibilities. The production foreman may be in charge of a single department, branch, or division, or he or she may be the sole supervisor for the entire facility, branch, or division. The foreman, who is at the heart of the manufacturing process, may be directly responsible for all aspects of inventory control, quality assurance, and equipment maintenance or repair.
The production foreman must be an organized, detail-oriented professional who can solve problems quickly in addition to controlling the production workflow. To assist staff in achieving results, he or she must be able to lead, motivate, and mentor. This person is responsible for ensuring that all employees are properly trained, engaged, and managed through performance, talent, and skill development processes, resulting in increased efficiency and productivity. Typically, the foreman is expected to lead the engagement process at the team level to ensure that improvements are made, metrics are tracked, and production deadlines are always met and held to a consistent standard.
Additional job requirements for the production foreman include communication and human relations skills. Interacting effectively with the production staff, ensuring that all employees and their ideas are respected and valued, confirming that their unique and diverse perspectives are leveraged, and validating that their contributions are recognized on a regular basis are just a few of the skills this person should have to ensure positive outcomes in the production environment. To establish working schedules for their assigned departments, the foreman must collaborate closely with production managers, team leaders, and other supervisors. In addition, the foreman ensures adherence to company policies, enforces proper safety standards, and encourages good housekeeping practices while keeping track of departmental activities, performance evaluations, and staff attendance through good communication skills.
A production foreman will be expected to have a certain level of skill, experience, and education in most organizations. An undergraduate college degree with additional work experience in a specific field, as well as long-term supervisory experience in a fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing facility, are sometimes required to place an individual in a position with this level of responsibility. Given the expected interaction with both technology and business processes while performing this role, a knowledge of business administration and computer skills are also desirable.