A method for the production of an article in an automatic machine operating by means of a succession of operating cycles; the production method comprises the steps of: moving, at the beginning of a first operating cycle, a carriage provided with at least one seat configured to accommodate a first component by means of a main conveyor and along a processing path (P); stopping, during the first operating cycle, the carriage in a first loading station (S1); and inserting, during the first operating cycle, the first component into the seat while the carriage is standing still in the first loading station (S1); the production method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: checking, at the end of the first operating cycle, whether the first component is actually present in the seat ; moving, at the beginning of a second operating cycle immediately following the first operating cycle, the carriage from the first loading station (S1) to the following station (S3), only if, at the end of the first operating cycle, the first component is actually present in the seat ; keeping, at the beginning of the second operating cycle, the carriage in the first loading station (S1), if, at the end of the first operating cycle, the seat still lacks the first component ; and inserting, during the second operating cycle, the first component into the seat while the carriage is standing still in the first loading station (S1), if, at the end of the first operating cycle, the seat still lacks the first component . moving, at the beginning of a first operating cycle, a carriage provided with at least one seat configured to accommodate a first component by means of a main conveyor and along a processing path (P); stopping, during the first operating cycle, the carriage in a first loading station (S1); and inserting, during the first operating cycle, the first component into the seat while the carriage is standing still in the first loading station (S1); the production method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: checking, at the end of the first operating cycle, whether the first component is actually present in the seat ; moving, at the beginning of a second operating cycle immediately following the first operating cycle, the carriage from the first loading station (S1) to the following station (S3), only if, at the end of the first operating cycle, the first component is actually present in the seat ; keeping, at the beginning of the second operating cycle, the carriage in the first loading station (S1), if, at the end of the first operating cycle, the seat still lacks the first component ; and inserting, during the second operating cycle, the first component into the seat while the carriage is standing still in the first loading station (S1), if, at the end of the first operating cycle, the seat still lacks the first component . checking, at the end of the first operating cycle, whether the first component is actually present in the seat ; moving, at the beginning of a second operating cycle immediately following the first operating cycle, the carriage from the first loading station (S1) to the following station (S3), only if, at the end of the first operating cycle, the first component is actually present in the seat ; keeping, at the beginning of the second operating cycle, the carriage in the first loading station (S1), if, at the end of the first operating cycle, the seat still lacks the first component ; and inserting, during the second operating cycle, the first component into the seat while the carriage is standing still in the first loading station (S1), if, at the end of the first operating cycle, the seat still lacks the first component . <EOS>