Completion signals should be recorded in the system that owns the controlled execution record, usually the MES, digital traveler, or eDHR. Equipment, PLC, SCADA, or IIoT events may originate the signal, but the official completion record needs product context, audit trail, version control, and exception handling.

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.