The vast majority of industry practitioners who occupy supervisory roles have either been artisans who had been promoted to a supervisory role and in some cases someone without industry experience who is placed into a supervisory role.
Experience has shown that the successful construction work rest heavily on the shoulders of the supervisor, who takes responsibility for a wide range of functions ranging from planning to quality. It therefore makes business and financial sense to ensure that the incumbent of such a post is adequately trained for this very demanding position.
Typical functions assigned to a Supervisor of Construction processes are:
Procure labour, monitor the performance of team members including disciplinary action and provide on-job training and coaching.
Develop, implement and monitor a Health and Safety site plan, identify specific hazards related to the construction environment, supervise the implementation of steps to limit damage to persons and property, identify and apply procedures related to transmittable diseases.
Implement a quality management system, assist in establishing and implementing a quality improvement process, assist in establishing and implementing a construction project quality plan, and implement a process control quality system and conform to quality acceptance control requirements.
Comply with the legal requirements of a construction contract.
Interpret and apply a range of contract documentation, Codes of Practice and professional Ethics.
Read, interpret and use construction drawings and specifications.
Understand and implement environmental initiatives during all phases of the construction process.
Measure and report on construction activity production and resource cost and decide on and implement productivity improvement measures on a construction project.
Calculate quantities for the purpose of computing quantities of materials required to complete a job cost effectively, identify plant and human resource required and use these calculations to develop a work plan.
Apply basic setting out of works in the building construction industry using basic survey equipment such as measuring tapes, ranging rods, levels and a theodolite.
Procure, receive, use and store materials in accordance with site procedures and safety and manufacturer specifications.
In light of the above, it is advisable, that all employees occupying supervisory roles including foreman, general foreman, and superintendent receive formal education and training to ensure their effectiveness in the role to which they have been appointed.
The benefit to the economy is that quality supervision in the Construction Industry will result in improved productivity, quality, safety and cost efficiency - thus improving service delivery of infrastructure.
The benefit to the employer is increased productivity and profitability.
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The vast majority of industry practitioners who occupy supervisory roles have either been artisans who had been promoted to a supervisory role and in some cases someone without industry experience who is placed into a supervisory role.