Made in Connecticut: VRSim
Each month, we profile a Connecticut manufacturer, showcasing the ingenuity and innovation driving the state’s economy. For February, we spoke with Julie Parrett, who manages strategic planning and public Relations for VRSim in East Hartford.
When was your company founded?
2002
How many employees work for your company?
18
What products does your company manufacture? Who are your customers?
We design and manufacture value-driven VR training simulations for the skilled trades and allied health.
Our product offering includes training systems for industrial painting, welding, CNA patient care, and emergency medical skills.
We develop products that create good, sustainable jobs, facilitate independent learning, and fill voids that are common in many high-turnover workforce areas.
This is evidenced by our catalog of customers which spans a wide range including traditional educational institutions, vocational schools, workforce development, and employers.
Why did you choose manufacturing?
We are committed to delivering an easy-to-use and meaningful VR training experience to all of our customers.
Part of that commitment requires specific attention to user experience detail when designing and building our products.
Being a small, in-house manufacturer enables us to implement faster iteration, maintain cost control, and the ability to build a strong brand identity.
Many of our customers come back to us over and over again because they trust our brand when it comes to designing and building good quality training, regardless of what career pathway it serves.
What makes your company unique?
Our company’s 20-plus years of experience in innovative technology and long-standing ties to the skilled trades uniquely positions us to deliver the most effective tools for workforce development.
Customers trust us because of our depth of technological knowledge and products, the proven quality of our products, and the value of our turnkey systems.
It has made VRSim the company of choice for some of the most respected companies and institutions in the world.
Why did you choose Connecticut?
We chose Connecticut because of the proximity to business and technology hubs, concentration of manufacturing, diverse client base, and breadth of educational institutions.
What is the greatest advantage to operating in Connecticut?
Connecticut has a great cluster of manufacturing and education which supports our product development and distribution.
Where do you see your company in five years? Ten years?
VRSim will continue to expand its offering in the allied health spaces to include more foundational skills for careers in healthcare.
We will also continue to maintain a competitive edge to our product offering in skilled trades.
What’s the main thing policymakers could implement to make your company more competitive?
Provide support to initiatives that buoy allied health careers and skilled trades like welding, painting, CNAs, and EMS.
RELATED
EXPLORE BY CATEGORY
Stay Connected with CBIA News Digests
The latest news and information delivered directly to your inbox.