An error logging method for a plant with the following steps: a) Continuous logging of process data sets of the plant, the individual process data sets each being attributed to certain points in plant operating time and each containing multiple process data of the plant, b) Detection (S3, S4, S5) of a possible error state of the plant; c) Storage (S2, S7) of those process data sets which were detected within a specified lead time before detection of the error state and/or within a specified follow-up time after detection of the error state, d) Generation (S3, S4) of an error code when a plant error state is detected; e) Storage of the error code e1) time-synchronised with the stored process data sets and/or e2) with the relevant process data sets for each error state in a dedicated error file, and/or e3) with those process data sets which have been logged within a specified time frame around the time at which the error state was detected, characterized f) in that the plant is a coating plant, g) in that the following coating plant process data are stored: g1) Component data characteristics of the coated components, g2) User data, characterising the interaction between an operator and the coating plant, and/or g3) Plant data characterising the coating plant itself, h) in that the lead time and/or the follow-up time is a specific period, within which a specific number of skids or components to be coated is conveyed through the coating plant, and i) in that the storage (S2, S7) of the process data sets and the error code takes place with temporal resolution of at least 10 ms. a) Continuous logging of process data sets of the plant, the individual process data sets each being attributed to certain points in plant operating time and each containing multiple process data of the plant, b) Detection (S3, S4, S5) of a possible error state of the plant; c) Storage (S2, S7) of those process data sets which were detected within a specified lead time before detection of the error state and/or within a specified follow-up time after detection of the error state, d) Generation (S3, S4) of an error code when a plant error state is detected; e) Storage of the error code e1) time-synchronised with the stored process data sets and/or e2) with the relevant process data sets for each error state in a dedicated error file, and/or e3) with those process data sets which have been logged within a specified time frame around the time at which the error state was detected, e1) time-synchronised with the stored process data sets and/or e2) with the relevant process data sets for each error state in a dedicated error file, and/or e3) with those process data sets which have been logged within a specified time frame around the time at which the error state was detected, f) in that the plant is a coating plant, g) in that the following coating plant process data are stored: g1) Component data characteristics of the coated components, g2) User data, characterising the interaction between an operator and the coating plant, and/or g3) Plant data characterising the coating plant itself, g1) Component data characteristics of the coated components, g2) User data, characterising the interaction between an operator and the coating plant, and/or g3) Plant data characterising the coating plant itself, h) in that the lead time and/or the follow-up time is a specific period, within which a specific number of skids or components to be coated is conveyed through the coating plant, and i) in that the storage (S2, S7) of the process data sets and the error code takes place with temporal resolution of at least 10 ms.