Abstract: A method for controlling a metallurgical plant in an open-loop and/or closed-loop manner. In order to enable simple, robust, and economical open-loop and/or closed-loop control of a metallurgical plant, the method includes the following steps: detecting a metal microstructure of a metal product after the performance of a processing step on the metal product by the plant; producing at least one microstructure characterization that characterizes the detected metal microstructure; comparing the produced microstructure characterization with at least one specified limit criterion; and performing a further processing step, which follows the processing step, on the metal product by the plant only if the produced microstructure characterization meets the specified limit criterion.