Yoon In-seop (39), a senior application engineering specialist at Korea 3M's new materials division, met with Chosun Biz on the 6th and said this. When thinking of 3M, people often think of stationery items like Post-it notes or Scotch tape. However, 3M is a chemical corporation that produces materials used in various sectors, including optical films, electronics, electric power, automotive, construction, power, and telecommunications. Korea 3M has manufacturing facilities in Naju, Jeonnam, and Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. It also operates logistics centers in Busan and Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, and a technical research institute in Dongtan, Gyeonggi.
Yoon is in charge of the Glass Bubble product at Korea 3M. Specifically, he explores application areas for Glass Bubble. Glass Bubble is a type of insulation material produced by 3M. It consists of hollow spherical particles made of glass with thin walls, with an average particle size of about 65 micrometers (µm), thinner than a human hair. Its advantages include being lightweight and having excellent insulation properties. On that day, Yoon demonstrated by shaking bottles containing Glass Bubble and calcium carbonate. While calcium carbonate resembled sand from a beach, Glass Bubble flowed like water due to its fine particles.
Glass Bubble is used in a variety of fields, from golf balls and paint to home appliances, automobiles, space, and shipbuilding. For instance, global automotive manufacturers are replacing sealant fillers with Glass Bubble to reduce vehicle weight. Typically, about 8 kg of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) sealant is applied to finished vehicles. However, if Glass Bubble is mixed instead of PVC, the weight can be reduced from 8 kg to around 5 kg. Reducing the weight of finished vehicles improves fuel efficiency.
In addition to Glass Bubble, 3M produces about 55,000 different products. Engineers think about ways to create synergy between the products they manage and other products. 3M has established a unique culture known as the '15% rule' to allow engineers to generate diverse ideas. The 15% rule refers to 3M's practice of dedicating 15% of work hours to research and development of new products. This 15% rule, which started in the 1920s, also led to the creation of the company's hit product, Post-it.
Yoon explained, 'This means that the company respects the effort to enhance creativity during work hours,' adding that '15 is a symbolic number at 3M.' He laughed and said, 'Engineers are often more talkative than you might expect,' explaining how they compete to engage in conversation.
A graduate of the Polymer Engineering Department at Kyungpook National University, Yoon stated, 'It is my professional aspiration to build more areas with Glass Bubble.' He continued, 'To achieve this, I need to communicate more with other engineers at 3M about technology.' There are about 63,000 employees at global 3M, with roughly 1,600 at Korea 3M, of which 150 are engineers. Below is a Q&A with Yoon.
-Please explain your work routine.
'It varies from time to time. Usually, I go to the technical research institute in Dongtan, but I also work from home when creating materials. However, when working on development tasks, I commute to the institute daily. There are no set working hours. Because client production bases are spread across the country, I often travel for business. I usually travel to Changwon or Busan approximately 2 to 3 times a week. Occasionally, I take overseas trips. Educating the sales team about Glass Bubble and helping them understand the material's characteristics is also an important duty.'
-What is the new materials division?
'It is also known as the advanced materials division. When people think of 3M, they often first think of products like sponges, Post-it notes, or tape. However, the new materials division develops and sells raw materials. In a way, the division deals with products that have a strong B2B (business-to-business) nature. We sell raw materials to other corporations, which use them to create intermediate products or finished goods.'
-Do you have any memorable episodes during your 10 years at the company?
'What engineers prioritize most is pioneering new markets. When it is proven that technology can be applied in new fields, it will also be reflected in overseas business. This is referred to as 'replication.' About 3 to 4 years ago, I developed a method to enhance the electrical efficiency of home appliances and received positive feedback.'
-Communication with customers seems important.
'Indeed. Many customers are not familiar with the uses of the products. Furthermore, requirements vary significantly among customers. For instance, I receive inquiries about what ratio of Glass Bubble should be mixed with existing materials. Products that are simply lightweight and well-insulated are not necessarily good. Therefore, it is important to ask customers questions. We consult from one process to the raw material costs. It is somewhat akin to prying into the client's confidential information, so we sometimes proceed with a confidentiality agreement.'
-Is there any special culture unique to 3M besides the '15% rule'?
'Each branch holds a Tech Forum. It is a gathering where 3M engineers from different countries come together to introduce technology and products, and it has been in place for 50 years. Engineers should not limit themselves to their own areas. In the case of 3M, there are 55,000 products. As a result, engineers may become so absorbed in the technologies and products they manage that they may not know what technologies the company possesses. Therefore, through the Tech Forum, we share and learn about each other's products. Tech Forums sometimes form a type of club called 'chapters.' There is a 'chair' who oversees the Tech Forum for each country, and I was recently appointed as the chair for Korea and will lead the Korean branch for two years.'
-It seems like a company that emphasizes a spirit of challenge.
'The company has a strong ethos of not fearing failure. Post-it notes were born out of a failed attempt to create a super-strong adhesive. Especially at Korea 3M's technical research institute, there is a 'Penguin Award.' It is an award that selects and honors the worst project of the year. Although I cannot disclose the exact prize money, it is among the higher tiers of award programs. Penguins must jump off a cliff to catch fish, but they are too scared to leap. However, once one takes the plunge, all leap together. This award was created to encourage sharing lessons learned from failures with colleagues, leading to exploring new methods without hiding failures.'