Russia Is Training Welders and Painters in Virtual Reality
At KAMAZ’s training center, VR headsets and simulators are replacing old-school workshops—and helping the country’s manufacturing workforce level up faster.
Russia’s biggest truck maker, KAMAZ, is using virtual reality and digital simulators to train welders and painters for real-world industrial jobs. The company’s training center features 24 workshops and labs where students—both newcomers and experienced specialists—hone their skills using immersive VR tools that replicate factory conditions without the risks of a live production floor.
A Data-Driven Approach to Skilled Labor
The system replaces traditional grading with a “Competency Radar,” a data-driven method that pinpoints gaps in a trainee’s skills and adjusts the program accordingly. The approach is part of KAMAZ’s decade-long effort to modernize technical education in Russia’s manufacturing sector.
The center trains more than 30,000 people each year, drawing students from across the country. About 80 percent of instructors are seasoned industry professionals, giving the courses a strong focus on practical, hands-on experience. For newcomers, the center offers intensive programs designed to get them job-ready fast; for veteran workers, it provides advanced training and requalification to keep pace with new production technologies.
