A method is provided for the automated determination of the indirect and direct extent of damages in objects resulting from a failure of technical components integrated in a production cycle. The invention involves the detection of the components that are affected by a failure, a determination of the number of clients and/or users dependant on each affected component, and a determination of the point in time of the expected renewed availability of each affected component. The extent of the resulting indirect and indirect monetary damages is determined on the basis of this information.