Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for operating a machine tool comprising: during a machining process in which a first workpiece of a first batch is machined using the machine tool, detecting a measured variable using a detection device of the machine tool; determining a measured value characterizing the machining process as a function of the measured variable using an electronic computing device; and comparing the determined measured value with a reference function determined before the machining process using a reference machining process carried out before the machining process using the machine tool and/or by a further machine tool and stored in an electronic memory device, the reference function characterizing the reference machining process to machine a second workpiece of a second batch.

Method for error detection and for local limitation of a cause of the error in an installation for machining a workpiece which is preferably formed at least in sections from wood, a wood material, and/or a synthetic material, the installation having several segments, comprising the steps: Detecting a workpiece parameter in at least two segments of the installation; determining whether there is an error on the basis of the detected workpiece parameter; if there is an error, identifying in which of the at least two segments of the installation the error is present for local limitation of the cause of the error; and outputting a signal containing the information regarding which segment the error is in.

A machining path modification method includes the following steps: analyzing the machining path of a machining program to decide whether any point of the machining path is an avoidant point; obtaining an abnormal point of the machining path; and if the abnormal point exists, modifying the machining program to add an abnormality avoidant path on the avoidant point of the machining path.