For the self-optimising production control the objectives are very important. This aspect describes external, inherent and internal objectives of the system and their interrelations. External objectives are set from the outside of the selfoptimising system; they are set by other systems or by the user. Inherent objectives reflect the design purpose of the selfoptimising production control. Objectives build a hierarchy and each objective can thus be refined by sub-objectives. Inherent and external objectives that are pursued by the system at a given moment during its operation are called internal objectives. The selection of internal objectives and their prioritisation occurs continuously during the operation of the system. A detailed description of the specification technique CONSENS is provided.