The invention relates to a method for operating an industrial machine (54), the latter being e.g. a processing machine, a production machine or a manipulation robot. At least part of the operation of said industrial machine (54) is simulated with the aid of a simulation model (50) and the simulated results and real-time data from the operation of the industrial machine (50) are stored. The simulation can be carried out in the industrial machine (54) and if this is the case a parametric representation of the simulation model can be at least partly produced using a unit (50) for this purpose. To produce said parametric representation, a data-systems connection can be created between the industrial machine (54) and the unit (50), by means of an Intranet and/or an Internet connection (52). In addition, the simulation can be carried out in an external simulation unit (50), the latter (50) having a data-systems connection to the industrial machine (54) by means of an Intranet and/or an Internet connection (52).