Method for making articles containing an array of flat pieces, such as keyboards, including the steps of placing the flat pieces in tubes in an identical top to bottom vertical and rotational orientation, positioning the tubes so that they extend parallel to each other, simultaneously capturing (26) flat pieces, one piece at a time, in the outlets of each tube, moving the captured pieces either directly onto an element of the article to be produced or on an intermediate unit (34), in accordance with the intended arrangement of the flat pieces on the finished article or in a reverse arrangement, and releasing the flat pieces. The invention is useful for telephone keyboards.