Ridha is the Director at Centre for Research in Industry (CRI) 4.0 and Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya. He obtained Doctor of Engineering from Utsunomiya University Japan in 2015, specializing in magnetic abrasive finishing for superfinishing of tube internal surface for clean environment applications. Prior to his doctoral study, he worked in Mazak Corporation as Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, focusing on CNC prototype machine design and evaluation for mass production and customization. He involved in the design and development of several CNC machines including Mazak's Quick Turn Nexus series and had performed more than 100 variations of cutting parameters to confirm the machine`s limits and capabilities. Currently, he is collaborating with the Joining and Welding Research Institute (JWRI), Osaka University Japan to develop friction stir welding in semiconductor and aerospace applications. The project explores the possibilities of joining similar and dissimilar materials such as polycarbonate/aluminium, aluminium/stainless steel, magnesium/steel, aluminium/copper for various fundamental and applications. He was awarded the Distinguished International Associate from the Royal Academic of Engineering UK in 2023 for his project on friction stir welding. He has completed supervision of 7 PhD and 8 Master students, and currently supervising 8 PhD and 3 Master candidates.