The invention relates to a method for the automated detection of failure events by evaluating the field data of a production plant within the framework of a system for determining the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) of the production plant and for failure cause analysis. Failure events are detected by using a data processing unit (20) and programs stored therein for carrying out the functions of a failure event detector (21) and an OEE script configurator (22). Failure events are detected by the following steps: The OEE script configurator (22) accesses a predetermined production plant specific productivity model, generates an OEE script on the basis of likewise predetermined configuration data and files said script in an OEE script memory (32). The failure event detector (21) accesses the OEE script, retrieves field data from a data server (30) of the production plant according to execution requirements of the OEE script, derives failure events from said field data according to the processing instructions of the OEE script and files them, if desired, together with failure events inputted earlier in a failure data base (31).