Hi Sparky,
Nice to see your comment. Participants in these programs are of two types:
1. Company sponsored candidates
Corporates deploy the Six Sigma trained resources to drive pilot projects in identified business / customer relevant areas with focus on tangible (and intangible) quantified benefits. You will appreciate that it is inappropriate for us to comment on the gains from such projects, except in case where we advise clients on Six Sigma initiatives.
2. Individuals (self sponsored)
Individuals attend these workshops with different objectives:
a. Position themselves to take up process / operational excellence responsibilities in their current organization (or) other organizations in their own sector, country or internationally.
b. Differentiate and value add to their credentials in relation to peers/colleagues, acquire a new skill from a continuing education perspective and apply Six Sigma to drive improvements in processes they own/work in. (Benefits: Enhanced professional credentials, respect, recognition, career and role enrichment and compensation)
c. Switch from one role/industry to other (say manufacturing to services (or) technical role to process excellence related roles - where Six Sigma skills are in good demand and much valued) with attendant growth in salary/remuneration and designation/reporting levels.
In my view, an investment in getting trained into a new skill like Six Sigma (or for that matter Project mgmt or any other similar skill) could pay up in the following ways:
1. Deploy the skill for improving business performance (and in turn professional growth, learning as well as compensation in their current organization)
2. Differentiate and position oneself with a new "value adding" skill that is demanded in the market, with wider choice of employment options, better compensation and scope for job enrichment through cross functional responsibilities and perhaps global assignments too!l
It is however important to remember that Six Sigma can be good complement to one's core functional and/or technical skills.
Personally, I am of the view that industry professionals should first establish clear mid/long term career objectives, take an inventory of their current skill strengths/weaknesses (what they have), list out the skill gaps (what is needed) in order to help them reach their career objectives.
If Six Sigma is one among the "needed skills" list, go for it.
Otherwise, review sometime in the future and take the call!!
Sethu V
eXample Consulting Group
eXample Consulting Group - The way forward... (Enabling Excellence!!)
Six Sigma Training and Certification Workshop 
(Chennai)
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