Method for operating a workpiece transfer system, wherein the transfer system is a track-based system with at least one workpiece carrier (4, 5) which travels along a route (2, 2a, 2b) to at least one working station (6, 7, 8, 9, 10), wherein the workpiece carrier (4, 5) exhibits a plurality of arranged distance sensors and an intelligence which is embodied so that it can be configured by means of data connection (11, 12, 13), characterised in that the transfer system can be configured by means of a control software, wherein the configuration is based on a virtual grid system which is laid over the working stations (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) and which conforms to the traffic rules of a road system of a large city, wherein the method exhibits the following method steps:. definition of the parameters of every individual working station (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) and optionally every switch, where present,. definition of the location points of the working station (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) after number 1 by means of a road system by laying a virtual grid system of a road map over the working stations (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) and switches,. definition of the road system so that certain road traffic rules have to be obeyed,. configuration of the individual working stations (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) and switches once by producing a data connection (11, 12, 13) with a master computer so that the individual road crossings, blocks (17, 17a) and business streets are fixed,. removal of the data connection (11, 12, 13) to the individual working stations (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) and production of a data connection to at least one workpiece carrier (4, 5) in each case,. feeding of the working programme to the workpiece carrier (4, 5),. starting of the workpiece working system with the guiding of the individual workpiece carriers (4, 5) to the working stations (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) without any data connection between the working station (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) and the master computer with the exception optionally of a single one as feedback station,. transfer of working data from a workpiece carrier (4, 5) to a master computer for monitoring purposes.. definition of the parameters of every individual working station (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) and optionally every switch, where present,. definition of the location points of the working station (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) after number 1 by means of a road system by laying a virtual grid system of a road map over the working stations (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) and switches,. definition of the road system so that certain road traffic rules have to be obeyed,. configuration of the individual working stations (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) and switches once by producing a data connection (11, 12, 13) with a master computer so that the individual road crossings, blocks (17, 17a) and business streets are fixed,. removal of the data connection (11, 12, 13) to the individual working stations (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) and production of a data connection to at least one workpiece carrier (4, 5) in each case,. feeding of the working programme to the workpiece carrier (4, 5),. starting of the workpiece working system with the guiding of the individual workpiece carriers (4, 5) to the working stations (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) without any data connection between the working station (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) and the master computer with the exception optionally of a single one as feedback station,. transfer of working data from a workpiece carrier (4, 5) to a master computer for monitoring purposes.