The present invention improves on existing Equipment Fault Detection and Classification (FDC) and Equipment Automation methods and systems. Its novelty is in a new method and system to provide adaptive notifications based on the basic capability to detect interruptions and out-of-process-spec conditions at automated manufacturing or processing equipment through the existing methods of prior art. The reality of adaptive notifications is very important in order to manage the complexity of automated production environments, such as in the semiconductor and chemical industries, power generation utilities, durable goods manufacturing and food processing industry. The method and system described in the present invention result in actionable equipment notifications, which is a key differentiator. Existing methods of prior art frequently generate large quantities of data requiring further analysis before an action can be determined, and thereby consuming valuable production time.