Method and apparatus for determining and representing continuous resource loading profiles for complex discrete manufacturing

A method of analyzing a manufacturing system. The manufacturing system includes a plurality of manufacturing resources. A set of orders is currently appointed for processing by the manufacturing system. Each order of the set of orders requires performance of at least one task. Each task is to be performed by at least a respective one of the manufacturing resources. The method includes determining stochastic parameters for each task of the plurality of tasks. The method also includes calculating a loading profile for at least one of the manufacturing resources that is allocated to at least one of the plurality of tasks. The loading profile function is a function of time and represents a probability that the manufacturing resource is occupied at a given time. The calculation is based at least in part on the stochastic parameters of the tasks.