Method for identifying a process-disrupting automation component (BN,..., C-6) in an industrial automation arrangement having a plurality of concatenated automation components (BN,..., C-6), wherein a process disruption is determined in a first of the automation components and is examined there by a first local analysis device, characterized in that, in a first step, each automation component (BN,..., C-6) determines at least one automation component (BN,..., C-6) arranged upstream in the concatenation and/or at least one automation component (BN,..., C-6) arranged downstream in the concatenation, in that, in a second step, the first automation component sends an interrogation message to at least one second automation component (BN,..., C-6) that is arranged upstream or downstream in the concatenation depending on the type of process disruption, in that, in a third step, a local analysis device of the second automation component (BN,..., C-6) takes locally stored or measured key figures as a basis for deciding whether this second automation component (BN,..., C-6) is the cause of the process disruption, wherein, if so, in a fourth step, a response message is sent to the first automation component, and wherein, if not, in a fifth step, the same interrogation message or a further interrogation message is recursively sent by the second automation component (BN,..., C-6) to at least one third automation component (BN,..., C-6) arranged upstream or downstream of the second automation component (BN,..., C-6) and is analogously processed there, in that, in a sixth step, a response message received by an automation component (BN,..., C-6) is respectively forwarded to that automation component (BN,..., C-6) from which the automation component (BN,..., C-6) receiving the response message received the associated interrogation message, and in that, in a seventh step, the first automation component definitively receiving the response message provides or outputs, on the basis of the content of the response message, information relating to the automation component (BN,..., C-6) that is the cause of the process disruption. wherein a process disruption is determined in a first of the automation components and is examined there by a first local analysis device, characterized in that, in a first step, each automation component (BN,..., C-6) determines at least one automation component (BN,..., C-6) arranged upstream in the concatenation and/or at least one automation component (BN,..., C-6) arranged downstream in the concatenation, in that, in a second step, the first automation component sends an interrogation message to at least one second automation component (BN,..., C-6) that is arranged upstream or downstream in the concatenation depending on the type of process disruption, in that, in a third step, a local analysis device of the second automation component (BN,..., C-6) takes locally stored or measured key figures as a basis for deciding whether this second automation component (BN,..., C-6) is the cause of the process disruption, wherein, if so, in a fourth step, a response message is sent to the first automation component, and wherein, if not, in a fifth step, the same interrogation message or a further interrogation message is recursively sent by the second automation component (BN,..., C-6) to at least one third automation component (BN,..., C-6) arranged upstream or downstream of the second automation component (BN,..., C-6) and is analogously processed there, in that, in a sixth step, a response message received by an automation component (BN,..., C-6) is respectively forwarded to that automation component (BN,..., C-6) from which the automation component (BN,..., C-6) receiving the response message received the associated interrogation message, and in that, in a seventh step, the first automation component definitively receiving the response message provides or outputs, on the basis of the content of the response message, information relating to the automation component (BN,..., C-6) that is the cause of the process disruption.