Industry 4.0 is the hottest trend to hit the manufacturing world since the Toyota Production System started to transform assembly lines two decades ago. Although most of the talk about digital production systems and smart factories involves things such as augmented reality, collaborative robots or data analytics, conveyors play an equally important role.

During the early decades of the 20th century, Skoda Auto was a Czech automobile manufacturer with a few small plants (in Mlada Boleslav, Kvasiny and Vrchlabi) and a strong desire to meet the mobility needs of its citizens. But, that all changed after World War II.

Walk into any modern assembly and packaging facility, and the conveyor systems may very well resemble roller coasters at an amusement park—going up steep inclines, moving down drops, and twisting and turning around equipment and machinery as they transfer product from one area of the plant to another.

Automotive assembly lines have operated the same way for a century. Each worker takes charge of a single process and installs parts in vehicles as they move on a chain-driven or skillet conveyor.

Getting the right parts, to the right spot, at the right time is a requirement for any assembly line.

All cylinder locks may look alike on the outside, but on the inside, each is unique. Internal cylinder components include core pins, springs and sealing plugs—all of which require precise insertion.

Linear motor pallet-transfer systems have been around for more than a decade.

ERLANGER, KY—Jacobs Automation, which makes modular assembly conveyors based on linear motors, is slated to create 26 jobs and invest more than $1.7 million to build a new facility here.

STERLING HEIGHTS, MI—Jervis B. Webb Co. is working on a $60 million conveyor project at Chrysler’s assembly plant here.

This year marks the centennial of the moving assembly line.