Method for identifying causes of faults in automated installations, comprising the steps of: a) continuously capturing a real installation state of an automated installation , wherein the real installation state comprises at least one physical variable of the automated installation; characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: b) continuously checking whether there is a fault in the captured real installation states and, if there is a fault in the captured real installation states, determining a latest fault-free installation state in the captured real installation states and determining a fault time; c) initializing a digital twin of the automated installation with the determined latest fault-free installation state; d) simulating the installation state by means of the initialized digital twin until the determined fault time, wherein at least one element of the digital twin is assumed to be faulty; and e) comparing the simulated installation state at the determined fault time with the real installation state at the fault time and e1) identifying (5.1) at least one faulty element of the automated installation as the cause of the fault in the automated installation on the basis of the at least one element of the digital twin that is assumed to be faulty if the simulated installation state at the fault time matches the real installation state at the fault time; or e2) repeating (5.2) steps c) to e) if the simulated installation state at the fault time does not match the real installation state at the fault time, wherein at least one other element of the digital twin is assumed to be faulty in step d). a) continuously capturing a real installation state of an automated installation , wherein the real installation state comprises at least one physical variable of the automated installation; b) continuously checking whether there is a fault in the captured real installation states and, if there is a fault in the captured real installation states, determining a latest fault-free installation state in the captured real installation states and determining a fault time; c) initializing a digital twin of the automated installation with the determined latest fault-free installation state; d) simulating the installation state by means of the initialized digital twin until the determined fault time, wherein at least one element of the digital twin is assumed to be faulty; and e) comparing the simulated installation state at the determined fault time with the real installation state at the fault time and e1) identifying (5.1) at least one faulty element of the automated installation as the cause of the fault in the automated installation on the basis of the at least one element of the digital twin that is assumed to be faulty if the simulated installation state at the fault time matches the real installation state at the fault time; or e2) repeating (5.2) steps c) to e) if the simulated installation state at the fault time does not match the real installation state at the fault time, wherein at least one other element of the digital twin is assumed to be faulty in step d). e1) identifying (5.1) at least one faulty element of the automated installation as the cause of the fault in the automated installation on the basis of the at least one element of the digital twin that is assumed to be faulty if the simulated installation state at the fault time matches the real installation state at the fault time; or e2) repeating (5.2) steps c) to e) if the simulated installation state at the fault time does not match the real installation state at the fault time, wherein at least one other element of the digital twin is assumed to be faulty in step d). <EOS>