Driving Excellence: VRSim at the 38th Annual AAR Quality Assurance Conference

We are thrilled to share that Matthew Wallace, CEO and President of VRSim, and David Zboray, COO and Operations Manager, recently took the stage at the 38th Annual AAR Quality Assurance Industry Conference in St. Petersburg, FL. On February 19, 2026, they led an impactful workshop titled “Train Faster, Less Waste: SimSpray VR Training for Spray Applications,” highlighting how virtual reality is transforming the rail industry’s approach to workforce readiness.

Why Coatings Matter

Quality assurance in coatings is about more than just a clean finish, it directly impacts the durability and lifecycle costs of rail assets. Our presentation explored how traditional training often falls short due to high material costs and limited repetition, leading to inconsistent techniques and rework.

The VR Solution: SimSpray

Using SimSpray provides a safe, repeatable environment for mastering psychomotor skills. Key takeaways from the presentation included case study and research findings:

• 7x More Practice: Students using SimSpray can complete 80 projects in the time it takes traditional training to finish just 12.
• Massive Cost Savings: VR integration has been shown to reduce material costs by 50% and overall program operating costs by 20%.
• Measurable Proficiency: SimSpray tracks distance, speed, and angle in real-time, allowing trainers to objectively measure a worker’s technique before they ever step into a real spray booth.
• Better Outcomes: Research shows a 41.6% increase in overall certification rates for students using blended VR training.

Innovation for the Rail Industry

From Rail Hopper simulations to custom digital twins of proprietary parts, SimSpray by VRSim is dedicated to helping rail manufacturers reduce defects and improve workforce proficiency through turnkey VR solutions.

Thank you to the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and MxV Rail for hosting an incredible event. We look forward to continuing the conversation on how virtual reality can strengthen quality assurance across the industry.