A foreman is a person who supervises a group of workers who are usually doing factory work or some other type of skilled or unskilled labor. The type of foreman training he or she will receive is largely determined the industry in which they work. A foreman may be required to complete government-mandated courses on safety or regulatory issues in some industries and jurisdictions. Many foremen receive their training on the job, usually shadowing more experienced foremen and supervisory staff. Foremen may seek additional educational opportunities to improve their leadership skills and industry knowledge in some cases.
The term foreman can be applied to a wide range of industries, each with its own set of complexities and risks. Landscapers, factory assembly-line workers, and construction crews, for example, may be supervised a foreman. Typically, the jurisdiction where the foreman works has its own regulations governing certain industries’ operations. These regulations frequently address health and safety issues, and foreman training may be required to ensure that these managers are up to date on industry standards. Certain types of foreman training may be required federal and state laws in the United States, particularly if the foreman is required to hold a trade or professional license in order to perform his or her job.
Employers will create their own foreman training programs as well. Depending on the employer and the new responsibilities of the aspiring foreman, these programs can range from very informal to quite comprehensive. After working for the company for several months or years, a person may be promoted to foreman and even serve as the foreman’s assistant for a period of time. Some employers may also provide new foremen with classroom training or expect them to attend training at the parent company’s headquarters.
Some foremen may decide that additional education in their own industry or trade, as well as management skills, would be beneficial. The foreman may be able to find specialized training classes available through proprietary educators or even industry vendors, depending on the industry. In other cases, the foreman may need to enroll in courses that aren’t specifically designed for foremen or even people in his industry, but that provide good leadership, management, or budgeting training.