afwerk

Afwerk is a Dutch noun referring to the finishing phase of a project, product, or construction. It denotes the set of final tasks and touches that complete a job after the main work has been completed. In practice, afwerk includes activities such as surface finishing, painting, plastering, carpentry trim, installation of fixtures, final cleaning, and final quality checks. The scope of afwerk can vary by sector, ranging from interior finishing in construction to final assembly and inspection in manufacturing.

In construction and building trades, afwerk covers the visible and tactile aspects of a project, ensuring that surfaces are smooth, colors are uniform, and fixtures are properly installed. In manufacturing, afwerk corresponds to the last stages of production, such as final assembly, testing, packaging, and labeling, intended to prepare the product for delivery.

Etymology and usage: the term stems from the Dutch preposition 'af' (off, finished) combined with 'werk' (work). It is closely related to the more general term 'afwerking', which is widely used in Dutch and Flemish contexts to describe finishing or refinement. While 'afwerk' is understood in both the Netherlands and Belgium, 'afwerking' is the more common term in formal language and documentation.

See also: afwerking, finishing, finishing touches, construction finishing.