The frames of vehicles or other products to be assembled are placed on guided vehicles at a first station (37) and are then carried by the guide vehicles along a path (36) which traverses in turn a series of aligned island areas (41, 42, 43, 44, 46). In each island area the path splits into a plurality of parallel paths (36a, b, c; 36f, e, d), the guided vehicles being shunted into work stations at these parallel paths for assembly operations effected by assembly teams at the work stations. In between each pair of successive island areas, the path (36) deviates laterally into a loop (47) extending out to the side of the island areas. The loops (47) pass through kitting stations (48, 49, 51, 52) where components are placed on the guided vehicles for assembly at the succeeding work stations. An overhead conveyor (56, 59, 61, 62, 67) feeds the frames and components to the first work station (37) and the kitting stations (48, 49, 51, 52).
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