Method for operating a production plant with distributed computers

A method for operating a production plant having a plurality of processing stations, the method comprising:

• transporting, using a transport system, workpieces to be processed to the plurality of processing stations, the transport system including a plurality of transport sections, each transport section having a transport drive configured to transport the workpieces, the plurality of transport sections being connected by switchable diverter devices such that the plurality of transport sections form a branched system of transport routes by which the workpieces are transported to the plurality of processing stations;
• providing a plurality of stop gates, each stop gate being arranged on an associated transport section of the plurality of transport sections and being configured to stop the workpieces;
• providing a plurality of reading devices, each respective reading device being arranged on an associated transport section of the plurality of transport sections and being configured to read an information carrier that is attached to the workpieces passing by the respective reading device;
• providing a plurality of separate computers of the transport system that are connected and configured to exchange data via a computer network, wherein each of the plurality of transport sections, each of the plurality of stop gates, each of the switchable diverter devices, and each of the plurality of reading devices are directly connected to a respectively assigned computer of the plurality of separate computers to exchange data with the respectively assigned computer, bypass the computer network, and exchange data with remaining computers of the plurality of separate computers via the computer network;
• controlling the switchable diverter devices, the transport drives of each of the plurality of transport sections, and the stop gates using a plurality of separate control processes that are executed in parallel or quasi-parallel and taking into account information from the reading devices, the switchable diverter devices, the transport drives of each of the plurality of transport sections, and the stop gates communicating with one another exclusively via messages transmitted via the computer network;
• automatically, during the operation of the production plant, making an initial decision about which of the plurality of separate control processes is executed on which of the plurality of separate computers;
• and
• automatically implementing the initial decision.