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Foreman Duties & Construction Site Management (QCDSE)

Construction – Building (SSW 2) · 建設分野(2号・建築区分) · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

Role of the Foreman, PM Leadership Theory, and CCUS

The foreman (Shokuchou) serves as the vital link between the prime contractor's site manager / chief engineer and skilled workers, accurately understanding the construction plan and safety policy to directly supervise and guide workers for safety and quality.

A foreman who also serves as the subcontractor's 'Safety and Health Person in Charge (Anzen eisei sekininsha)' liaises with the prime contractor's Overall Safety and Health Controller and communicates and manages instructions for their crew.

In 'PM Leadership Theory', showing clear procedures and directing workers toward quality and schedule goals is the 'P function (Performance / Goal Achievement)', while listening to workers' opinions and concerns to build a cooperative atmosphere is the 'M function (Maintenance)'.

In the Construction Career Up System (CCUS), core skilled workers serving as foremen correspond to 'Level 3 (Silver card)'. Foremen must lead by example in legal compliance and never use abusive language or intimidating guidance (power harassment).

Role of the Foreman, PM Leadership Theory, and CCUS

Key points


  • In PM theory, the 'P function' drives goal achievement, while the 'M function' maintains team harmony and morale.

  • In CCUS, Level 3 skilled workers serving as foremen on site are issued a 'Silver card'.

  • Report to the prime contractor concisely 'stating the conclusion first while separating facts from speculation', and uphold compliance.
WordMeaning
PM Leadership Theory (P function & M function)
Subcontractor Safety and Health Person in Charge
CCUS Level 3 Silver Card (Foreman level)

Work Instructions (5W1H), OJT 4 Steps, Instructing Foreign Workers, and Patrols

Work procedure manuals must break tasks into steps and state the 'key points and reasons' for each step; right after the morning safety assembly, hold a crew 'Tool Box Meeting (TBM)' near the work area and give clear instructions using '5W1H (When, Where, Who, What, Why, How)'.

The four steps of planned 'OJT (On-the-Job Training)' are conducted in order: '1. Demonstrate (show how) → 2. Explain key points and reasons → 3. Have them try it → 4. Check and give follow-up guidance (praise or correct)'.

For foreign workers with limited Japanese, speak in simple Japanese using real objects or drawings and have them 'repeat back (Fukushou)' the instructions to verify understanding. Listen fully to workers' concerns before advising, and correct unsafe acts by stating specific facts, reasons, and the right method.

During 'workplace patrols (Shokuba junshi)', verify compliance with procedures and PPE and have unsafe items corrected on the spot. After hot work such as welding, never leave immediately after spraying water—monitor for smoldering embers for a set period.

Key points


  • The 4 steps of OJT are: Demonstrate → Explain → Let try → Check and provide follow-up guidance.

  • Conduct crew TBM right after morning assembly using 5W1H, and use real objects/diagrams and repeat-back for foreign workers.

  • Correct unsafe acts on the spot during workplace patrols, and never lock up and leave immediately after spraying water on hot-work areas.
WordMeaning
On-the-Job Training (OJT)
5W1H instruction method
Workplace patrol (Shokuba junshi)

Five Major Management Areas (QCDSE), PDCA Cycle, and Seven QC Tools

Among the Five Major Management Areas (QCDSE), ensuring structures meet the dimensions, strength, and accuracy specified in drawings and specifications is 'Quality management', while comparing actual expenses against the pre-work 'working budget (Jikkou yosan)' to investigate variances is 'Cost management'.

The five elements of production '5M' are Men, Materials, Machinery, Methods, and Money, and the continuous improvement cycle is 'P (Plan) → D (Do) → C (Check) → A (Act)'.

Among the 'Seven QC Tools', a 'Pareto chart' combines a descending bar graph of defect counts with a cumulative percentage line to narrow down priority problems, while a 'cause-and-effect diagram (fishbone diagram)' organizes causes affecting a result.

A 'scatter diagram' plots paired data (such as temperature and concrete strength) on vertical and horizontal axes to examine correlation, and a 'histogram' divides measured values into intervals using vertical bars to show the distribution of variation.

Key points


  • The 5Ms are Men, Materials, Machinery, Methods, and Money; the PDCA cycle is Plan → Do → Check → Act.

  • A 'Pareto chart' prioritizes defects using bars and a cumulative line, while a 'cause-and-effect diagram' maps causes like a fishbone.

  • A 'scatter diagram' checks correlation between two variables, and a 'histogram' shows variation distribution across intervals.
WordMeaning
Pareto chart
Cause-and-effect diagram / Fishbone diagram
Scatter diagram & Histogram

Schedule Management, Productivity (Bugakari), Mixed Work, and Severe Weather

A 'bar chart schedule' lists work items on the vertical axis and dates on the horizontal axis with horizontal bars showing duration; the labor index indicating total man-days (Ninku) required per unit quantity of work is 'productivity rate (Bugakari)'.

Man-day calculations: 240 man-days completed in 20 days requires 12 workers/day; 480 m² of formwork at 6 m²/worker-day with 8 workers (48 m²/day) takes 10 days. For 60 man-days worked by 6 workers for 3 days (18 man-days) and 8 workers thereafter (42 ÷ 8 = 5.25 → 6 days), work finishes on the 9th day.

If Task A (3 days) is followed by Tasks B (4 days) and C (6 days) in parallel, and Task D (2 days) starts after both B and C finish, the shortest duration is 3 + 6 + 2 = 11 days. Never use reckless rush work (Tokkan sagyou) to recover delays; revise plans within safe and quality limits.

When 'mixed work (Konzai sagyou)' overlaps vertically or nearby with other trades, coordinate work hours and locations at the prime contractor's coordination meeting; before typhoons or storms, secure scaffolds/materials against wind and stop work immediately when weather exceeds limits.

Key points


  • Labor required per unit work quantity is 'Bugakari', and a horizontal bar schedule is a 'bar chart schedule'.

  • 60 man-days (6 workers × 3 days = 18; remaining 42 ÷ 8 = 6 days) finishes on 'Day 9'; A(3d)→B(4d)//C(6d)→D(2d) takes '11 days'.

  • Coordinate time and place for mixed multi-trade work, and secure materials and halt work during severe weather.
WordMeaning
Labor productivity rate per unit work (Bugakari)
Bar chart schedule
Mixed / Overlapping multi-trade work (Konzai sagyou)

Foreman Duties and Site Management

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Official references