M.H. KITCHEN & ASSOCIATES (MHKA) is a California-based consulting firm, specializing in Transportation Electronics consulting activities. Founded in 1987 by Myles H. Kitchen, the firm provides a variety of services to companies involved in the Transportation, Automotive, Electronics, Semiconductor, and Components industries.

The firm's business is in three areas; Market Research, Product Development, and Management Consulting. The firm assists and advises clients wishing to penetrate various segments of the automotive electronics business. In this role, MHKA provides Business Development services and helps clients develop and implement strategic business/market plans. MHKA provides insight for strategic product planning, and often participates in the product development process itself.

MHKA also helps to identify and develop key customer relationships with potential customers at the Tier 1, 2, and lower levels within the auto industry supply chain.

The firm also conducts traditional market research in electronic system and component markets, with a particular expertise in the semiconductor and components areas, with a keen understanding of their applications in automotive electronic systems. MHKA has undertaken numerous customer-proprietary studies relating to many aspects of the vehicle electronics market.

MHKA also assists clients by evaluating potential strategic investment, joint-venture, or acquisition candidates by conducting confidential research on the firms under consideration; from a financial/economic focus to a technology/capabilities assessment. In this regard, MHKA has recently assisted with both market and technical due diligence in several major automotive supplier acquisitions.

In the Product Development area, MHKA provides contract engineering services for both hardware and software for automotive electronic system designs. With a wealth of automotive electronic experience residing in the firm, it is uniquely qualified to assist with specialized module development. In addition to both analog and digital hardware design expertise (including RF and microwave), the firm is capable of software development for automotive microcontrollers, and can also provide custom software for specialized test, simulation, or demonstration applications. MHKA personnel have experience in the development of such products as alternators/regulators, engine controls, cruise controls, security systems, keyless entry systems, instrumentation, audio/entertainment components, compass/navigation products, tire pressure monitors, alternative fuel controls, pre-heated catalyst controls, airbag & restraint systems, and a variety of other specialized vehicular electronics.

MHKA has at its disposal a wealth of technology expertise upon which to draw. Through its Associates, the firm provides its clients with design and prototyping services such as printed wiring board layouts and prototype module construction, for both conventional through-hole, and surface mount packaging technologies. Through a cooperative arrangement, MHKA also has engine electronics development and test capabilities to its list of services. With access to an engine and chassis dynamometer facility, MHKA has the capability to assist in the development and testing of engine control electronics and components, at the system and vehicle level.

MHKA's clients range from high-tech start-ups to Fortune 100 corporations, worldwide, from such industries and categories as:

Other services provided by MHKA include serving as a resource for the media by providing background and expert information on topics relating to automotive electronics. Mr. Kitchen is widely quoted by the press as one who is knowledgeable in the field. In addition, MHKA provides technical services and expert witness testimony for insurance companies and attorneys involved with both civil and criminal cases in which questions regarding automotive electronic systems have been involved.

Mr. Kitchen's personal background includes over twenty-six years of direct technical marketing, engineering, and industry experience in the automotive electronics field. Previous positions held include key automotive-related management positions at Motorola, National Semiconductor, Intel Corp., Quantic Industries, and Zemco Group Inc. Mr. Kitchen is an alumnus of the University of Cincinnati, the University of Kentucky, and Northern Illinois University, having pursued both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Electronic Engineering and Business Administration. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, a licensed racing driver, and serves as a high performance driving instructor.