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n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m | O c t o b e r 2 0 2 2 | n e w h a v e n B I Z 21 costs and risks associated with raw materials," Volz said. "We want to give them a chance to hone their skills without any risk involved." Schools and companies also use VRSim's products to showcase different career paths and upskill and train workers, she said. Manufacturing and trades-related industries aren't VRSim's only focus. e company announced in April it was piloting a certified nursing assistant virtual reality simulator. Volz said VR technology has become more prevalent in recent years because the pandemic heightened workforce development challenges. 'Build before you build' At Sikorsky in Stratford, the helicopter manufacturer has been undergoing what it calls a "digital integration and transition" of its product life cycles for years. Sikorsky Vice President of Enterprise Business Transformation Mike Ambrose said that process essentially means connecting data related to everything from an idea based on what customers need to the manufacturing and creation of a product. He said the company has invested more than $1 billion in digital technologies at its factories in the last six years to allow computer programs, machines, and employees to better share data about what they're working on. at's where virtual reality comes in. "If you think about seeing people with goggles playing tennis or golf, we have a version of that, which is much more sophisticated and integrated that essentially takes a representation of an aircra," Ambrose said. Sikorsky has a large area dedicated to its virtual reality space, but the technology is also portable and can be moved around. Sikorsky uses it to allow workers, engineers and customers to look at product designs so they can offer feedback. Ambrose gave the example of using a virtual helicopter model to ensure a soldier of any height can adequately reach components and other parts in the aircra. Virtual reality technology allows Sikorsky to confront potential issues in product design much earlier in the development process, resulting in significant time savings, he said. For example, aircra performance and build that the company formerly saw in its 100th aircra, is now seen in its 20th. "Virtual reality is all stuff we do before we build aircra, before we design aircra," Ambrose said. "We find (issues) before we even finish the design." n Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender All loans are subject to credit and underwriting approval. For more information contact Jeff L. Hubbard, Market President: jhubbard@liberty-bank.com or visit liberty-bank.com/commercial-lending $4,600,000 Commercial Real Estate & Working Capital Health Services New Haven, CT $5,000,000 Acquisition Financing HVAC New Haven, CT $11,500,000 Risk Mitigation Solution Leasing Company Southern CT We're the kind of bank that helps our community grow. Genny Fonseca, director of strategic planning for the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board, tests out a game-based job simulation on a virtual reality headset.

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