The claimed processing operation is used to process piece goods. Large numbers of at least similar objects are processed by feeding objects into the operation in streams (PS) of starting products (A), feeding the starting products and/or intermediate products in product streams (PS) to processing steps (7, 8, 12, 14, 15 . . . ) where they are processed and then carried away from the processing steps, and discharging the processed objects from the operation in streams of end products (EP). In the incoming and outgoing product streams individual products or product groups are conveyed in a sequence. At each processing step at least one property of a processed product or product group is changed. The claimed operation is characterized by sequence changes (4, 5, 6, 10, 13, 16, 17 . . . ) in which the sequence of products or product groups can be changed by transferring products in or out or combinations of both. As a result, the processing steps can be linked to any degree of complexity and nevertheless the operation can be carried out with great flexibility. Sequence changes as well as at least some of the processing steps can then be controlled according to relevant properties of the incoming products or product groups and/or according to a predetermined sequence to be established.
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