Ir. Dr Mohd Ridha Muhamad is Director of the Centre for Research in Industry 4.0 (CRI4.0) and an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya. He obtained his Doctor of Engineering from Utsunomiya University, Japan, in 2015, specialising in magnetic abrasive finishing for the superfinishing of internal tube surfaces in clean-environment applications. Before pursuing his doctoral studies, he worked at Mazak Corporation as a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, focusing on the design and evaluation of prototype CNC machines for mass production and customised applications. He contributed to the design and development of several CNC machines, including Mazak’s Quick Turn Nexus series, and conducted cutting-parameter evaluations to determine their operational limits, performance, and capabilities. He currently collaborates with the Joining and Welding Research Institute (JWRI), The University of Osaka, Japan, on the development of friction stir welding processes for semiconductor and aerospace applications. His research investigates the joining of similar and dissimilar materials, including aluminium–magnesium, aluminium–steel, magnesium–steel, and aluminium–copper combinations, encompassing both fundamental studies and application-oriented development. In 2023, he was named a Distinguished International Associate by the Royal Academy of Engineering, United Kingdom, in recognition of his work in friction stir welding. His interdisciplinary research also includes the application of computational fluid dynamics to improve airflow and ventilation within hospital environments. An active research grant recipient, he has secured more than 40 projects funded by domestic and international organisations. To date, he has supervised eight doctoral and eight master’s students and currently supervises 15 doctoral and three master’s candidates.