A system for utilizing multi-level shipping instructions in a manufacturing system includes multiple elements. A first element can receive an order and generate an electronic, text-based file that includes shipping instructions identifying a product. The first element can also identify a second element based on the order and transmit the file to the second element. The second element can receive the file and identify manufacturing activities based on the shipping instructions. The second element can also determine whether at least one downstream element is involved in the manufacture of the product. For each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product, the second element can determine whether the shipping instructions are inappropriate for the downstream element, modify the shipping instructions if the shipping instructions are inappropriate for the downstream element, and transmit the shipping instructions to the downstream element.