K-2 and Arizona MEP Turn K-2’s HR Department into a Strategic Asset
K-2 Manufacturing is a contract manufacturer based in Phoenix, Arizona. Over the past decade, the company has steadily expanded its services and capabilities, providing CNC fabrication, welding, finishing, and assembly for customers across the aerospace, gas, medical, and commercial sectors.
Company president Tom Wright emphasizes that employees are central to K-2’s continued success. “We are very fortunate to have a dedicated staff that knows we stand behind them,” said Wright. “Everyone and every job is important to our overall success.” K-2 also places a strong emphasis on continuous process improvement to maintain high quality standards and on-time delivery.
As the company prepared for its next phase of growth, K-2 created a dedicated human resources role. Leadership identified a high-performing internal candidate who demonstrated strong professionalism and work ethic but needed formal HR training to succeed in the position.
To support this transition and build the function correctly from the start, K-2 engaged Arizona MEP to audit its HR practices and provide one-on-one training.
Identifying Gaps and Training on Best Practices
Arizona MEP’s HR expert conducted a comprehensive audit of K-2’s policies and procedures. The company’s priorities were ensuring consistent treatment of employees from onboarding through offboarding and confirming compliance with applicable state and federal regulations.
The audit helped K-2 identify policy gaps and develop a structured plan for implementing more comprehensive employee and company guidelines. The management team, new HR manager, and frontline supervisors participated in both the assessment and best-practice training.
Following the audit, Arizona MEP introduced a process to help transform the HR function into a strategic asset. This included developing detailed job descriptions and role plans across the organization. “What I appreciated was that Arizona MEP didn’t dump everything on us at once,” said Wright. “We implemented the project in manageable steps with their guidance.”
Formalizing Procedures and Establishing the HR Role
Before drafting job descriptions, Arizona MEP worked one-on-one with the new HR manager to formalize policies and procedures. These policies clearly defined acceptable employee and company behavior while incorporating K-2’s operational needs, best practices, and legal requirements.
During implementation, the HR manager gained hands-on experience by learning directly from Arizona MEP’s HR expert, building long-term internal capability rather than relying on outside support.
Using Job Descriptions to Strengthen Strategic Planning
Arizona MEP recommended developing detailed job descriptions for every role in the organization. Beyond clarifying expectations, these descriptions were tied to performance metrics and used as a strategic planning tool to assess workforce alignment with company goals.
This approach allowed K-2 to evaluate whether it had the right people in the right roles and identify areas where staffing adjustments or skill development were needed to support growth.
Job descriptions also became the foundation for performance reviews and employee development plans. Employees are now evaluated against clearly defined metrics and receive targeted training to close skill gaps and expand capabilities.
Results
As a result of this work, K-2 established a more strategic organizational structure and significantly improved how it aligns employee roles with company objectives. Using employee development plans, K-2 launched its first English-as-a-Second-Language training program with support from Arizona MEP.
Arizona MEP helped identify an instructor to lead the program, which focused on improving reading comprehension and communication skills. Ten employees participated in classes held twice a week for six weeks. K-2 plans to evaluate the program’s impact through employee feedback and team performance to determine whether additional sessions will be offered.
Testimonial
“Arizona MEP is a very good resource for manufacturers. The people are top shelf, and they provided us with the tools needed to build a solid foundation for continued growth.”
— Tom Wright, President, K-2 Manufacturing