A method to automatically configure a process module being a heater or cooler with states food allowed and food denied indicating the availability or the non-availability of the process module to process food, for operation in a plant, the method comprising: receiving operational data (DATA A) in relation to the process module during the operation of the process module in a first phase in a first operational environment in a first plant where the process module is used with highly concentrated acid and storing the operational data by a memory function; upon connecting the process module into a second operational environment in a second plant, receiving operational data (DATA B) in relation to the process module during the operation of the process module in a second phase in the second operational environment and storing the operational data by the memory function; receiving a query by a reply function, the query being directed to a yes or no response whether process module is compatible with other modules that provide input objects or that receive output objects; processing the query by the reply function and providing a response, thereby processing operational data that has been received during the operation of the process module in the first and second phases (,), the processing comprising distinguishing the query according to phases and using ontologies to classify input materials as trigger for state changes where data that represents input including water or chocolate does not change state of the process module, but data standing for input including cleaning liquid or salt water does change the state of the process module to food denied, and configuring the process module using configuration parameters that are derived from the response, where a query to the compatibility of a further process module results in the response that food is denied for the inputs of salt water and cleaning liquid. receiving operational data (DATA A) in relation to the process module during the operation of the process module in a first phase in a first operational environment in a first plant where the process module is used with highly concentrated acid and storing the operational data by a memory function; upon connecting the process module into a second operational environment in a second plant, receiving operational data (DATA B) in relation to the process module during the operation of the process module in a second phase in the second operational environment and storing the operational data by the memory function; receiving a query by a reply function, the query being directed to a yes or no response whether process module is compatible with other modules that provide input objects or that receive output objects; processing the query by the reply function and providing a response, thereby processing operational data that has been received during the operation of the process module in the first and second phases (,), the processing comprising distinguishing the query according to phases and using ontologies to classify input materials as trigger for state changes where data that represents input including water or chocolate does not change state of the process module, but data standing for input including cleaning liquid or salt water does change the state of the process module to food denied, and configuring the process module using configuration parameters that are derived from the response, where a query to the compatibility of a further process module results in the response that food is denied for the inputs of salt water and cleaning liquid.