Foreman is basically an instructor who provides guidelines to the operators concerning their routine tasks. He has to oversee the work of the team to ensure that it is being carried out as per plan. In other words they act as a link between middle line officers and shop floor workers. They have a direct role in production. Supervisor is a middle line level manager whose role includes checking on the operations of the subordinates which includes that of foreman also. He has only the role of supervising the team and doesn’t have any direct role in production. They are the direct link that coordinates management and the work team and they help in developing the following aspects.

• Job coaching
• Safety attitude
• Safe working techniques
• Identifying unsafe acts

The academic qualification required for a Supervisor and a Foreman will be different depending on the area in which they are working and also on their specific job profile. Their responsibilities also vary with the area in which they are working.

Foreman and opportunities

A Foreman has several career opportunities in numerous under takings in several areas of work. The most common career areas of work of a Foreman include the following.

• Construction firms
• Manufacturing Units
• Mining Units and so on

The salary packages vary with the chosen area of work. However they will be offered good salary packages in good firms.

Supervisor and opportunities

A Supervisor has numerous employment opportunities in various areas of work. They can work in a variety of job profiles as well. The most common job profiles in which Supervisors are recruited are as follows.

• Marketing Supervisor
• Advertising Supervisor
• Music Supervisor
• Sales Supervisor
• Drilling Supervisor
• Production Supervisor
• Maintenance Supervisor
• Store Supervisor
• Cleaning Supervisor
• Catering Supervisor
• Site Supervisor
• Accounting Supervisor
• Warehouse Supervisor

Key difference between a Foreman and Supervisor

• Foreman is basically an instructor who gives instructions to operators concerning their routine tasks whereas Supervisor is a middle line level of manager whose role includes checking on the operations of subordinates including that of foreman also.
• Foreman has a direct role in production whereas a Supervisor doesn’t have any direct role in production.
• A foreman has to report to the supervisor.

Although the employment areas of a Supervisor and that of a Foreman are same their job profiles will be totally different. The remuneration offered for a Foreman and a Supervisor will be different in most of the under takings.