Computer-implemented method for determining at least one machine (1.1) for processing plastics and other plasticisable materials on the basis of criteria determined and/or determinable for a manufacturing of at least one component (2.14), the method comprising the steps: (a) providing a reference database with reference machine data (2.4), comprising reference part data sets (RTDS) required for determining machine parameters, wherein machine parameters are assigned to each reference part data set, (b) providing user data (2.3) via a user interface (2.1) as determined and/or determinable criteria in a data storage (2.2), which user data (2.3) comprise data required for the manufacture of at least one component (2.14), in particular CAD data, and further comprise at least one group of the following data: - Material characteristics of the material to be processed, - Target machine characteristics, - Target process data, (c) performing a simulation for manufacturing the at least one component (2.14) on a machine (1.1) while generating simulation data sets and/or reading in simulation data sets generated during the manufacture of at least one component (2.14) on the machine (1.1) on the basis of the user data (2.3), (d) segmenting the simulation data sets for extracting partial data sets, wherein the partial data sets relate to machine-side machine parameters with which a machine (1.1) is to be operated for manufacturing the at least one component (2.14), (e) comparing the partial data sets with the reference part data sets (RTDS) from the reference database for partial matches, (f) outputting a minimum requirement to a machine (1.1) or machine unit when manufacturing the at least one component (2.14) on the basis of the partial matches, characterized by the steps, (g) that at least two of the elements comprising the user data (2.3), the simulation data sets, the partial data sets and the minimum requirements are collected from different machines and clusters are formed therefrom, grouped according to the same or similar machine configurations, the same processes and/or the same or similar materials to be processed, and these clusters are evaluated in order to operate machines with a minimum requirement adapted as a result of the results of the evaluation by means of federated learning, (h) determining available machines (1.1) or available machine units from the reference machine data (2.4), (i) comparing the minimum requirement with the available machines (1.1) or available machine units to determine at least one machine (1.1) or machine unit suitable for manufacturing the at least one component (2.14), (j) operating the machine (1.1) or machine unit for manufacturing the at least one component (2.14). (a) providing a reference database with reference machine data (2.4), comprising reference part data sets (RTDS) required for determining machine parameters, wherein machine parameters are assigned to each reference part data set, (b) providing user data (2.3) via a user interface (2.1) as determined and/or determinable criteria in a data storage (2.2), which user data (2.3) comprise data required for the manufacture of at least one component (2.14), in particular CAD data, and further comprise at least one group of the following data: - Material characteristics of the material to be processed, - Target machine characteristics, - Target process data, - Material characteristics of the material to be processed, - Target machine characteristics, - Target process data, (c) performing a simulation for manufacturing the at least one component (2.14) on a machine (1.1) while generating simulation data sets and/or reading in simulation data sets generated during the manufacture of at least one component (2.14) on the machine (1.1) on the basis of the user data (2.3), (d) segmenting the simulation data sets for extracting partial data sets, wherein the partial data sets relate to machine-side machine parameters with which a machine (1.1) is to be operated for manufacturing the at least one component (2.14), (e) comparing the partial data sets with the reference part data sets (RTDS) from the reference database for partial matches, (f) outputting a minimum requirement to a machine (1.1) or machine unit when manufacturing the at least one component (2.14) on the basis of the partial matches, characterized by the steps, (g) that at least two of the elements comprising the user data (2.3), the simulation data sets, the partial data sets and the minimum requirements are collected from different machines and clusters are formed therefrom, grouped according to the same or similar machine configurations, the same processes and/or the same or similar materials to be processed, and these clusters are evaluated in order to operate machines with a minimum requirement adapted as a result of the results of the evaluation by means of federated learning, (h) determining available machines (1.1) or available machine units from the reference machine data (2.4), (i) comparing the minimum requirement with the available machines (1.1) or available machine units to determine at least one machine (1.1) or machine unit suitable for manufacturing the at least one component (2.14), (j) operating the machine (1.1) or machine unit for manufacturing the at least one component (2.14).