voormannen

Voormannen (singular: voorman) is a Dutch term for a foreman or supervisor, a person who directs and coordinates a group of workers on a worksite or in a production setting. The role appears across sectors such as construction, manufacturing, logistics and agriculture and serves as the link between management and frontline staff. The term comes from voor- “in front of” and man, literally “front man.”

Typical duties include planning and delegating tasks, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance, monitoring quality and productivity, and reporting progress to higher management. A voorman may also handle on-the-job training, allocate tools and materials, and oversee administrative tasks like timesheets, depending on the size of the organization and the specific sector. In practice, the voorman translates management directives into concrete work instructions and acts as a point of contact for the crew.

Context and variation: In larger organizations the voorman is a formal frontline supervisor, while in smaller teams the role may be less formal or shared among team members. In many settings the title is functionally equivalent to the English foreman or supervisor, though exact duties can vary by industry and company policy.

Language note: The term voorman is commonly used as a job title for all genders today, although historically it was masculine in form. Many workplaces prefer gender-inclusive language and may use alternative formulations depending on organizational style.

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