More than 31,000 potential employees have applied for hundreds of available production and maintenance positions at the Kia Motors automobile manufacturing plant in West Point.

“Like in the first wave of hiring when we received an automotive benchmark setting 43,013 applications, we are seeing a tremendous response from individuals interested in joining the KMMG team,” said Randy Jackson, Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia’s director of human resources and administration. “Unlike our first application process though, which lasted only 30 days, we plan to continue receiving applications at the KiaJobsInGeorgia.com Web site for the foreseeable future. If you would like to join our team, we invite you to apply there.”

Kia continues to use an innovative online-only process to collect applications for these positions available at the $1 billion facility. By using an online-only process, the automaker has set a new benchmark for the industry and guarantee that all applicants receive equal opportunity to apply.

Jackson said the 1,200 employees on Kia’s initial shift made it through the original application process, assessment and training to begin mass production of the 2011 Kia Sorento on Nov. 16.

“We have been so pleased with the way our team members have developed during the past year,” he said. “Our current production and maintenance team members came in with virtually no automotive experience and now make up a highly skilled automotive workforce.”

The latest process again was designed in partnership with Georgia Quick Start, the state’s workforce training program.

“We have unique requirements for our advanced manufacturing processes, and Quick Start’s expertise has proven to be a huge asset in helping us to continue building our team,” Jackson said.

Production workers will assemble the cars, while the maintenance workers work to keep the assembly equipment up and running smoothly in the plant.

Applicants who meet the company’s qualifications will undergo a job interview, followed by a pre-employment assessment.

“Some people will decide that this is what they’ve been looking for their entire lives and then others might decide this is not for them,” Jackson said. “The ones who stick it out, though, will be the ones who continue to help us make history right here in West Point, Georgia.”

— Those interested in applying can visit www. KiaJobsInGeorgia. com.