Sheet Metal Job Traveler Template
A job traveler is the paper (or PDF) that follows a sheet metal job from the saw to the dock. This template captures the job, material lot, program, finish and a routing grid with operator sign-offs, ready to print.
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Sheet Metal Job Traveler Template
Northline Metalworks - Job Traveler
Job: WO-24817 Customer: Harlan Enclosures Inc. Customer PO: PO-77412 Part: HE-2204-B rev C Quantity: 250 Ship date: 2026-11-20
Material
Material: 5052-H32 aluminum, 2.0 mm Heat / lot: L-55318 Cut program: HE2204B_2.0AL_V3 Finish: Powder coat
Special instructions
Deburr all edges. Protect bend lines from scratches. Ship with certificate of conformance.
Routing and operations
| Op | Work center | Description | Qty in | Qty good | Scrap | Operator | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Shear / saw | Cut blank or stock to size | |||||
| 20 | Laser / punch | Cut per program HE2204B_2.0AL_V3 | |||||
| 30 | Deburr | Remove burrs and dross | |||||
| 40 | Press brake | Form per setup sheet | |||||
| 50 | Weld / hardware | PEM insertion, weld, grind | |||||
| 60 | Finish | Powder coat | |||||
| 70 | Inspection | Final inspection and pack |
Sign-off
Print one traveler per job or per lot. Keep the heat or lot number on the traveler so material certs can be traced to finished parts. Adjust the routing rows to match your own work centers.
Generate travelers from your ERP
Optional: a short review of how to print travelers straight from your work order data.
Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.
How to use the traveler
Fill the header fields once per job, then export to PDF and print. Each operator initials the row for their operation and records good and scrap quantities. If your shop splits large orders into lots, print one traveler per lot and add the lot number to the job field. Keep the traveler with the parts, not on the office desk, so scrap and rework are recorded when they happen.
- Fill header fields from the sales order or work order
- Edit the routing rows to match your shop's work centers
- Print and attach to the first pallet or cart
- File completed travelers with the job record
What a good traveler contains
At minimum it carries the identifiers needed to trace a part: job number, customer PO, part number with revision, material and heat or lot number. Add the cut program name so the laser or punch operator loads the right file. Record the finish so the part is not shipped bare. Many customers in medical, aerospace and electrical enclosures expect lot traceability, so a traveler with heat numbers saves time during audits.
Traveler versus ERP routing
If you run an ERP or MES, the routing and work order already exist as data. The traveler is the human-readable copy for the floor. Keep the operation numbers on the traveler identical to the ERP routing so labor reporting posts to the right step. If your ERP prints a traveler, use it; this template is for shops still using spreadsheets or a basic quoting package.
Common mistakes
Shops often leave out the drawing revision, which leads to parts cut to an old revision. Another frequent miss is not recording scrap by operation, which hides where yield is lost. A third is letting the traveler travel separately from the parts. Treat a missing traveler as a stop condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add or remove operations?
The routing grid is a starting set covering cut, deburr, form, weld, finish and inspection. After exporting to Word or Excel you can add, delete or reorder rows to match your actual routing, including outside processing steps.
Do I need heat numbers on the traveler?
Not every customer requires them, but recording the heat or lot number is cheap and makes traceability and certificate requests much easier. Medical, aerospace and structural customers often require it in their purchase terms.
Is the data stored anywhere?
No. The template runs in your browser and nothing is sent to a server. Export to PDF, Word or Excel to keep your copy.
Should I print one traveler per job or per lot?
Use one per lot when an order is split across days or material heats, so each lot can be traced separately. For small single-lot jobs, one traveler per job is enough.
If your travelers are re-keyed from an ERP, we can help generate them directly from work order data so the floor and the system never disagree.
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