Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic components, based in Kyoto. The company was established in 1944 as a personal venture of Akira Murata, the founder, and started as a manufacturer of ceramic capacitors for radios. Today, Murata Manufacturing is a global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of advanced electronic materials, leading-edge electronic components, and multi-functional, high-density modules. The company's products are used in a wide range of applications, including smartphones, automotive electronics, healthcare devices, and energy management systems. Murata Manufacturing has operations in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.