A foreman refers to a person who is in charge of the operational-level workers. Taylor focused on the importance of the foreman in an organisation. Taylor observed and identified few qualities such as intelligence, tact and judgment that a foreman should have. He found that no single person can have all the required qualities. Therefore, he suggested that instead of a single person, there should be eight persons through which the functions of a foreman should be accomplished. This technique was given the name functional foremanship. According to this technique, the planning and the production functions should be separated. That is, under the manager, there should be one planning incharge and one production incharge. Each incharge should have four personnel under him ∕ her.
The following are the four persons that work under the planning incharge:
(i) Route clerk: This foreman has to lay down the sequence of operations in which the work is to be carried out.
(ii) Instruction card clerk: This foreman lays down the instructions and guideline to the workers.
(iii) Time and cost clerk: This foreman records the time taken by a worker in completing a work. He also keeps a record of the work done.
(iv) Disciplinarian: He is responsible for discipline and systematic performance of the job.
The following are the four persons that work under the production incharge:
(i) Gang boss: Gang boss is responsible to keep machines, materials, tools, etc., ready for the workers.
(ii) Speed boss: This foreman has to ensure that the work is accomplished in the right time and according to the specified speed.
(iii) Repair boss: This foreman is responsible for upkeep of machines and equipment in an efficient and working order,
(iv) Inspector: He is responsible for the quality of work. He brings a spirit of quality consciousness in the minds of workers.