A method for monitoring a conveying system with a monitoring device includes recording a signal pattern progression in relation to a functional unit of the conveying system. A reference signal progression is stored in a database as is a correlation data set for the reference signal progression, the correlation data set including instants or time segments in the reference signal progression and reference to the functional unit. The reference is linked to each instant or time segment, the recorded signal pattern progression is compared with the reference signal progression by a processing unit, and in the event of deviation between the signal progressions an entry in the correlation data set belonging to the reference signal progression is determined by the processing unit on the basis of an instant or time segment of such a deviation, and the functional unit referenced there is output as a cause.