A feeder determination method, comprising: a performance result registration step of registering performance result data in a database associating a size (Sz1-Sz5) or type (P1-P6) of a component used in a mounting operation that has been performed in a component mounting machine with identification information (F1-F7) of a feeder that supplied the component using a carrier tape; a performance result search step of searching for whether candidate data matches any of the performance result data in the database, the candidate data being a combination of a size (Sz1-Sz5) or type (P1-P6) of a component used in a mounting operation to be performed and identification information (F1-F7) of a candidate feeder to supply the component; and a performance record-based determination step of determining a combination of a size (Sz1-Sz5) or type (P1-P6) of a component and a feeder based on a supply performance record in the mounting operation that has been performed with the feeder that is to become a candidate when the candidate data matches at least one piece of the performance result data, wherein the supply performance record of the feeder is related to a recorded performance result pickup rate (Apf) for the combined size or type (P1-P6) of a component; characterized by a quality-based determination step of determining a combination of a size (Sz1-Sz5) or type (P1-P6) of a component and a feeder based on a supply quality of the feeder when the candidate data does not match any of the performance result data, wherein the supply quality of the feeder is related to an ability of positional accuracy (Bpf1-Bpf7) of the feeder. a performance result registration step of registering performance result data in a database associating a size (Sz1-Sz5) or type (P1-P6) of a component used in a mounting operation that has been performed in a component mounting machine with identification information (F1-F7) of a feeder that supplied the component using a carrier tape; a performance result search step of searching for whether candidate data matches any of the performance result data in the database, the candidate data being a combination of a size (Sz1-Sz5) or type (P1-P6) of a component used in a mounting operation to be performed and identification information (F1-F7) of a candidate feeder to supply the component; and a performance record-based determination step of determining a combination of a size (Sz1-Sz5) or type (P1-P6) of a component and a feeder based on a supply performance record in the mounting operation that has been performed with the feeder that is to become a candidate when the candidate data matches at least one piece of the performance result data, wherein the supply performance record of the feeder is related to a recorded performance result pickup rate (Apf) for the combined size or type (P1-P6) of a component; characterized by a quality-based determination step of determining a combination of a size (Sz1-Sz5) or type (P1-P6) of a component and a feeder based on a supply quality of the feeder when the candidate data does not match any of the performance result data, wherein the supply quality of the feeder is related to an ability of positional accuracy (Bpf1-Bpf7) of the feeder.