Diagnostic device and method for monitoring operation of a technical system

A diagnostic method for monitoring the operation of a technical system, the method comprising:

• storing at least one data record which identifies the operation of the technical system and which has values of process variables in a data storage unit;
• determining a diagnostic statement about the operation of the technical system based on the at least one data record and at least one predetermined self-organizing map,
• analyzing automatically, during operation of the technical system, a program for controlling a sequence via repeatedly run step sequences to determine whether at least one part of the process variables is relevant to the diagnosis;
• assigning in each case a coordinate of the data record to the process variables previously determined as relevant to a diagnosis, the data record being an n-tuple with a plurality n of coordinates.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program which, when executed by a computer, causes operation of a technical system with an automation system to be monitored, the computer program comprising:

• program code for storing at least one data record which identifies the operation of the technical system and which has values of process variables in a data storage unit;
• program code for determining a diagnostic statement about the operation of the technical system based on the at least one data record and at least one predetermined self-organizing map;
• program code for analyzing automatically, during operation of the technical system, a program for controlling a sequence via repeatedly run step sequences to determine whether at least one part of the process variables is relevant to the diagnosis;
• and
• program code for assigning in each case a coordinate of the data record to the process variables previously determined as relevant to a diagnosis, the data record being an n-tuple with a plurality n of coordinates.