In a production line small parts or conductor ends are transported by workpiece carriers from work station to work station in a production direction. First and second groups of work stations. First and second transfer devices move the workpiece carriers from work station to work station in the groups. An interchange device is connected between the two transfer devices, the first transfer device handing over the workpiece carriers to the interchange device and the interchange device feeding the workpiece carriers to the second transfer device. The interchange device serves as an adapter for different workpiece carrier spacings (pitch dimensions) of the first and second groups. The workpiece carriers are maintained in positive positions upon the transfer devices and the interchange device, each of which is independently driven to allow synchronism to be accomplished when a carrier is transferred to or from the interchange device.