Educator Reduced Grading Time By 50% With GLSS
South Carolina
Education
Operations
50%
- The problem: College Instructors were spending six hours reviewing student assignments, and it was taking a toll, slowing everything down—feedback gets delayed, and teachers feel stretched thin.
- The result? With the help of Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training & Certification, the teachers created a smoother, faster grading process that took three hours and gave students quicker feedback, freeing up educators to do what they love—teach and support their students.
In education, quick feedback is one of the most powerful tools for helping students grow. But for many educators, grading can become a time-consuming burden that slows everything down—feedback gets delayed, teachers feel stretched thin, and students miss out on the timely input they need to thrive. That’s exactly the challenge Tony Daley faced as an educator and Engineering Manager. Tony manages a team of instructors who were eager to improve. Tony turned to GLSS Green Belt Training & Certification to lead the way. The result? A smoother, faster grading process that gave students quicker feedback and freed up educators to do what they love—teach and support their students.
Grading had become a real pain point. Instructors were spending hours reviewing student assignments, and it was taking a toll. Not only did this delay the return of feedback, but it also left less time for engaging students, developing lesson plans, or simply catching a breath during the busy school week.
This issue wasn’t just about workload—it was affecting student learning too. When feedback is slow, students can’t adjust their work or build on what they’ve learned. That’s why improving the grading process wasn’t just helpful—it was essential.
To take on the challenge, Tony formed a project team and enrolled in GLSS Green Belt Training & Certification. This training gave the team a clear structure to follow and helped them stay focused on practical, meaningful improvements.
With guidance from GLSS, the team dug into the problem and quickly found a major contributor to the slow grading: No standardized templates existed for student assignments.
Instructors had to review each submission individually, starting from scratch every time. Without a consistent format or reference, it was like solving a new puzzle for every student. That meant grading took much longer than it needed to, and results weren’t always consistent.
Thanks to GLSS’s clear and practical improvement approach, Tony and the team developed a simple but powerful fix: They created Master Drawing Files that served as grading templates.
These templates gave instructors a go-to reference to quickly compare student work against the correct structure and requirements. No more guessing. No more starting from zero. Just a clear, consistent way to grade more efficiently.
GLSS’s training helped the team apply these changes smoothly and confidently. The tools and techniques provided through the certification made the transition easy, even for those new to process improvement.
The impact was immediate and impressive:
- Grading time dropped by 50% from six hours to 3 hours.
- Students got feedback faster.
- Instructors had more time for one-on-one support, lesson planning, and even a bit of breathing room.
- The grading process became more accurate and consistent across all instructors and classes.
Everyone benefited—from the teachers to the students to the broader school community.
with GLSS
Tony Daley
I recently had the pleasure of working with GLSS and Kure on my project, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the support I received. GLSS provided live assistance from their experienced executive coaches, which was invaluable in guiding me through various challenges. Their expertise helped me gain fresh perspectives and stay focused on my goals. Additionally, Kure’s user-friendly and interactive software made project management a breeze. The combination of personalized coaching and intuitive tools truly enhanced my productivity and overall project success. I highly recommend both GLSS and Kure to anyone looking to elevate their projects!
By choosing GLSS Green Belt Training & Certification, Tony and the team didn’t just fix a grading issue—they transformed it. The GLSS’s innovative instructional design and real-world tools helped the team solve problems faster and with lasting impact. Now, the organization is set up for continued success, with energized teachers, more engaged students, and a culture that embraces smart, effective improvements.
GLSS showed that with the right training and a little structure, schools can work smarter, not harder, to create the best possible learning experience.
*We value our clients’ confidentiality. While we’ve changed their names, the results are real.
