Abstract: An arrangement and a method are provided for upgrading/downgrading and maintenance (fitting, removal, selection, or repair) of a needle board (1) of a needle machine for nonwoven or needle felt production. The arrangement has at least one tool (2) and has a holding device (3) for holding the needle board (1). The tool (2) may be positioned relative to a needle bore (4) and/or a needle (5) of the needle board (1) by means of a control and drive device and at least one detection device. The arrangement increases the flexibility of the positioning of the tool and allows operations such as selection, repair of the needles by virtue of the tool (2) and the control and drive device being assigned at least one robot (7, 8). The robot (7, 8) is provided with at least one articulatedly mounted tool arm (9, 10) on which the tool (2) is arranged.