The invention relates to a device for marking and/or scanning an object comprising a head, in particular a marking head or a scanning head, having a plurality of regular operating elements for marking and/or scanning the object, and comprising a driving mechanism for providing a relative movement of the object relative to the head in an advance direction during a working operation, at least a part of the regular operating elements being arranged in a rectangular pattern of rows and columns. The inventive device is characterized in that at least one spare operating element is provided, which is idle in case that all regular operating elements are functioning, the at least one spare operating element is movable relative to the regular operating elements, in case that one of the regular operating elements is defective, the at least one spare operating element is movable into a position in which the defective operating element is replaced by the spare operating element and the at least one spare operating element is settable to an active state. The invention further relates to a method for marking and/or scanning an object.