Start with one controlled, repetitive workflow, not a plantwide paper elimination program. The safest entry point is usually a routing with stable work instructions, clear quality checkpoints, and manageable ERP or MES touchpoints. Success depends on document control, validation, operator adoption, and coexistence with legacy systems, not just digitizing forms.

A small aerospace machine shop can move off paper travelers by treating it as a controlled, incremental change: stabilizing current travelers, digitizing only a narrow slice of work at first, running paper and digital in parallel, and validating each step. Expect to handle integration, training, and audit trail gaps deliberately to avoid production disruption.