A compare sequence is executed at least once, and the results of that execution are used to modify the compare sequence for a subsequent execution of the compare sequence. In a preferred embodiment, the compare sequence is modified by placing the TRUE compare statement of the previous execution at the beginning of the compare sequence. In another preferred embodiment, the compare sequence is reordered in descending order of the number of TRUE compares associated with each compare statement. The compare sequence may be immediately modified after each successful compare, or the customer may define external sampling periods for modification of the compare sequences. The modification may be a single program modification of compare structures for delayed modification or a global modification of programs for delayed modification.