Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated manufacturing of optical fiber. According to one embodiment of the invention, an automated conveyor system automatically moves spools of optical fiber from one manufacturing process step to another. The spools are preferably mounted on pallets which circuit around on a plurality of non-interconnected track segments. The segments may include, for example, a segment transporting spools from draw, one or more test segments, and a shipping segment. Data-containing devices are mounted to the spool or pallet and allow data to be uploaded, downloaded and transferred as the fiber on the spool is processed and tested.