An adhering amount detecting process includes: lowering the nozzle to a trial application position; performing a trial application to apply the viscous material to a trial application surface disposed on an application stage; and detecting an amount of the viscous material adhering to the nozzle. Then, whether a difference between maximum and minimum values of the amounts of the viscous material adhering to the nozzle detected by performing the adhering amount detecting process a plurality of times exceeds a threshold is determined. If the difference is determined as not exceeding the threshold, the lowered position of the nozzle with respect to the application target is set such that a gap between the nozzle at the lowered position and an application surface of an application target coincides with a gap between the nozzle at the trial application position and the trial application surface.