Method for compensating for a malfunction of a field device in a plant for process automation, wherein a plurality of field devices (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, FG5) are provided in the plant, wherein each of the field devices (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, FG5) has at least one sensor unit (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE3', SE4, SE5, SE5'), which is designed to measure at least one process variable, the field devices being grouped into at least one measuring point (MS1, MS2), the field devices (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, FG5) being integrated into a communication network and communicate with a higher-level unit, wherein the field devices (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, FG5) transmit the collected process values, diagnostic data and status information via the communication network to the higher-level unit, wherein the higher-level unit transmits the collected process values, diagnostic data and status information to a control center of the plant, and wherein each measuring point (MS1, MS2) comprises a data processing unit (DV1, DV2) which is arranged in each case in the communication network between the field devices (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, FG5) of the corresponding measuring point (MS1, MS2) and the higher-level unit, comprising: - monitoring the process values transmitted by the field devices (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, FG5) to the higher-level unit by means of the data processing unit (DV1, DV2); - creating history data based on the transmitted process values for each of the field devices (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, FG5) and the sensor units (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE3', SE4, SE5, SE5'), by means of the data processing unit (DV1, DV2); characterized by: establishing a replacement system on the basis of the historical data, the data processing unit (DV1, DV2) determining, in the course of establishing the replacement system, which process variable of a sensor unit (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE3', SE4, SE5, SE5') can replace a process variable of a further sensor unit (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE3', SE4, SE5, SE5') with a predetermined accuracy as a replacement variable, the data processing unit (DV1, DV2) using an AI in particular based on neural networks, for establishing the replacement system, the AI algorithm being taught in advance on a service platform and the algorithm taught in this way being imported in advance into the data processing unit (DV1, DV2); comparing the current process values of each of the field devices (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, FG5) and of the sensor units (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE3', SE4, SE5, SE5'), with setpoint values, which setpoint values are formed by the history data and/or by predetermined reference values for precalculating time periods in which the current process values of a respective field device (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, FG5) or of the sensor units (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE3', SE4, SE5, SE5') deviate from the setpoints by at least a predetermined value; transmitting the substitute variable for the respective field device (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, FG5) or the sensor units (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE3', SE4, SE5, SE5') to the higher-level unit by means of the data processing unit (DV1, DV2) during the pre-calculated periods. - monitoring the process values transmitted by the field devices (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, FG5) to the higher-level unit by means of the data processing unit (DV1, DV2); - creating history data based on the transmitted process values for each of the field devices (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, FG5) and the sensor units (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE3', SE4, SE5, SE5'), by means of the data processing unit (DV1, DV2); establishing a replacement system on the basis of the historical data, the data processing unit (DV1, DV2) determining, in the course of establishing the replacement system, which process variable of a sensor unit (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE3', SE4, SE5, SE5') can replace a process variable of a further sensor unit (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE3', SE4, SE5, SE5') with a predetermined accuracy as a replacement variable, the data processing unit (DV1, DV2) using an AI in particular based on neural networks, for establishing the replacement system, the AI algorithm being taught in advance on a service platform and the algorithm taught in this way being imported in advance into the data processing unit (DV1, DV2); comparing the current process values of each of the field devices (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, FG5) and of the sensor units (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE3', SE4, SE5, SE5'), with setpoint values, which setpoint values are formed by the history data and/or by predetermined reference values for precalculating time periods in which the current process values of a respective field device (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, FG5) or of the sensor units (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE3', SE4, SE5, SE5') deviate from the setpoints by at least a predetermined value; transmitting the substitute variable for the respective field device (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, FG5) or the sensor units (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE3', SE4, SE5, SE5') to the higher-level unit by means of the data processing unit (DV1, DV2) during the pre-calculated periods.