RICHARD YIM, CEO of Quantum Engineering and Manufacturing, is a revolutionary leader who has brought visibility to Cambodian-made products.
We all know that robots can be very smart, but they are after all, built inside the brain of a human, and they need human intervention to do all the smart things they do. One such robotic project, Demine Robotics, is the first semi-autonomous robotic solution for landmine clearance that eliminates the direct handling of explosives by demining operators. This has been developed by Richard Yim, the first person in the world to develop such a project, rightfully earning him a place in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia and the ASEAN 40 Under 40 U.S.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Business Entrepreneurship & Technology from the University of Waterloo, Canada, Richard Yim returned to Cambodia and started a metal fabrication manufacturing company called Quantum Engineering and Manufacturing, in 2020, that helps companies to launch new products. Quantum has focussed on a few divisions such as building customised machinery, architectural metal fabrication and producing consumer products; within just a few years Richard Yim led the team and the company to success, gaining trust from customers like Chip Mong, Hanuman Beverages, Denso, Minebea and Sumitomo.
For this interview at Prestige’s office, the CEO, dressed in a formal suit accentuated by a red tie, said, “I am very comfortable in a suit. Throughout my work life, there have been a lot of meetings and conferences, so I am usually dressed in formal attire, but my daily regular attire would be just jeans, sneakers, and a T-shirt.”
Talking about his unique company, Richard Yim says, “Truly, Quantum is a kind of encapsulation of all the work that I have done before, including the previous company Demine Robotics, but this time we are going to use the same formula and try to impact different sectors such as transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing. What we want to do here is revolutionise the way we manufacture, especially in Cambodia.”
With an astounding vision, Richard Yim has started a company that has never existed in Cambodia before. “Quantum’s business model is such that we have to put up large investments to get all the machinery we need to build. So, in terms of step zero to step 100, we are the first ones to fill up this big gap.” He continued, “I tend to compare Quantum to a kitchen where there are pots, pans, gas stoves and all the required equipment and materials to make different dishes. Even what we are doing now seems to be a bit diverse but in reality, we need all the tools to make different things. This model does not really exist even outside of Quantum.”
On its quick success, Richard Yim says, “As a young start-up, we are able to gather different clients and partners quickly because we are the only ones to do this, and we keep developing our work to reach its full potential. Whatever metallic equipment you can think of, we can build them up effectively,” he says confidently.
When there is a huge import of products from abroad, it is not easy to change the mindset of local customers to trust domestic products. “For sure, it is very difficult because to change the mindset, it does not need just one example of a product. For example, the Q-motor, the electric scooter that I have built, I tried my best to strive for the highest quality possible but still, it does not change our Cambodian mindset because it was just one product that we have put out. So, we have to put out more work and products consistently.” To challenge this mindset and change perspectives, Richard Yim states, “It’s not only me and my company who need to tackle this issue, but all the Cambodian companies; everyone needs to continue to create new products that prioritise quality and allow consumers to experience them”.
Married to Ratanaktepy Sam, the Director of Operation and Business, Sahaka Coworking, Richard Yim says that both of them are in busy positions, therefore, it is tough to find the time for discussions. “Now my schedule is tough, sometimes I come home late and sometimes we can’t talk but I try to keep the weekend open and spend time discussing important matters,” Richard Yim shared. “It’s been three years; we have never had any issues. We are really respectful towards each other. Meanwhile, if there is a decision to be made, I always give her precedence to decide. The only thing I am strict on is my work.”
As an entrepreneur, Richard Yim does not believe in work-life balance: “I haven’t known what work-life balance is for a long time. When you are an entrepreneur, you don’t just turn off your computer at 5pm. It is just about working toward the vision and goals.” On the other hand, he said that nowadays he is more flexible with his family time because there is a system that allows him to work remotely. “My personal model that I follow is to automate and delegate. If I can’t automate my work, I can delegate it to other people. With my automated day-to-day tasks, I can relieve myself a bit.”
The entrepreneur and CEO, who is in his 20s, shares his leadership style, “To be a leader, you have to be a pillar of the company; you need to be able to deal with unforeseen situations and your staff should be able to rely on you when it comes to solving difficulties, to make sure that the company has a strong pillar and foundation.” He also points out his philosophy for his company, “As the CEO, my job is to get out of the way of my co-workers to allow them to work independently at their best. It is about hiring the right people—a mixture of diversity and different skill sets so that they can complete a project together. If they were to face challenges such as technical difficulties, I would step in to help solve the problems. But otherwise, I aim to provide an environment for them to succeed in their careers.”
As a person who produces advanced technological products for accessories, he loves watches the most, especially classics. “What attracted me to classic watches was the story behind them. I love learning about different types of watches.” For entertainment, he likes to do things that are difficult. “I like off-road things; when I see places that are really hard to get to, I just want to go there. This is also the part that inspires me to build scooters for off-roading and a reason for me to do Quantum—because it is hard”.
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Leaving home at the age of 13 to study abroad, Richard Yim only returned after completing his Masters’, to become an influential entrepreneur in his homeland. He remarks, “In Canada, I lived in a condo. It gives you more independence. I can cook, do laundry, do chores, and everything on my own. But over here it is a little bit more structured. I am fortunate to have a house with people to help me with everyday chores; I don’t have to cook and clean, and from time-to-time people help me with driving as well.” So which life do you prefer? He replies, “Cambodia for sure; I value my time a lot so with the little time that I have, I want to be productive as much as possible to enjoy it. So, not doing chores frees me up to do a lot of other things”.
To arrive at this point in life, Richard Yim says that he was lucky to grow up with the freedom to choose and decide by himself—and those are the right decisions. Therefore, if he were to have kids, would he leave them to their own decisions as well? “I would definitely guide them and make sure they understand what life really is, and understand that life is complicated. It is not always about rainbows and butterflies.” On a lighter note, we ask him if children are on the horizon. “We have no plan, maybe next year.” And would he prefer a boy or a girl? “For me, a son for sure.”
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(Hero image and feature image credit: Vuth Sovin Chem)
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