Here we seem to have clarified that your procedure states that master copies of documents are signed off, and you wish to move to a paperless system, then I can make a suggestion and vouch that the following is used quite succesfully in a large steelmaking facility, who by the way, is a tier 1 supplier to the auto manufacturers. In other words, this works and is simple and acceptable.
First revise your procedures after you decide on what your new methodology will be. Part of this methodology should be that you get a database to control document, record, calibrated tool and and statistical information management. In there you will assign responsibilities for reviewers and approvers and your procedure will identify the extent to which they must be involved (e.g. revisions that do not affect policy, i.e. spelling mistakes, minor clarifications) are handled by the next lowest approver called a "document coordinator". Send a copy of a document in email to the approver as an attachment when required. Save the response approval in either a public email folder, or print it out and save it as an approval record. OR include his approval comments on the appropriate comments tab of the database revision comments section. As long as legal regulations do not require your document to have a hand written signature, this will work for everything, including stats and tools. For those few that require hand-written approval, keep them as approval records. To the best of my knowledge, no where does the ISO standard dictate manual signatures for approvals are required unless regulated.
This database I spoke of is based on Access and is called ENVISOTRAK. Before you get your shorts in a knot about that, let me assure you that it was professinally developed, is packed with features and designed to not run on macros so that is is stable and protected from meddling fingers. I could go on and on about it, but I suggest you read up on it at wwww.veraccess.com. If you are interested in how you could integrate this into a SIMPLE QS or EMS system, I strongly suggest you begin by checking out the website, view the PowerPoint presentation right on line and ask questions. You may also elect to download a fully functional trial version using your own real or dummy data. I'd be more than happy to anwer questions from you or any other forum member on this approach. BTW, this product was shown to the MMTC, and they thought enough of it to say they were very impressed. I can't say more than that at this time because negotiations are under way concerning this and other projects.
Best Regards,
Dave
Veraccess