Abstract: An automated assembly facility includes a random storage facility for each assembly line conveyor and associated series of assembly stations. The assembly line conveyor is located between the random storage facility and the series of assembly stations. A first conveyor is coupled between plural sources of carriers and the random storage facility. The random storage facility is coupled to the assembly stations by a transfer conveyor so that carriers can be transferred directly from random storage to an appropriate assembly station, obviating the need for the assembly line conveyor to cooperate in this transfer. The layout leaves the assembly station accessible from three sides. Efficient space use is achieved by providing one access aisle for each pair of assembly lines; random storage facilities of two lines are directly adjacent each other.