Medical device labeling streamlined with DITA XML
This organization is a world-leading manufacturer of medical devices for metabolic health management. Based in the United States and supported by a broad network of global affiliates, it serves patients in over 150 countries.
Before implementing the DITA XML standard and Componize CCMS, medical device labeling and documentation relied on manual, fragmented workflows.
Teams produced and updated content across MS Word, InDesign, and Illustrator, often working in parallel on the “same” change for different markets and audiences. With 50+ authors and multiple content managers operating in silos, the source content was frequently duplicated, overwritten, or unintentionally altered during handoffs.
This led to inconsistencies, rework, and the occasional need to investigate publication errors. The challenge became even greater as the company grew, with increasing volumes and stricter regulatory requirements across markets.
As the team manager put it:
“It was like playing the game of Telephone — by the time the message reached the last person, it had changed. But in our industry, those deviations aren’t funny; they’re critical. At best you get longer delays for product launch, at worst CAPAs and audit risks.”
The company needed a system that would guarantee consistency, facilitate collaboration, and support rapid, accurate updates across multiple product configurations and regulatory environments.
How DITA XML and Componize CCMS reduced labeling risk
For a team that needs the highest accuracy, consistency, and has strict delivery timings, DITA was the obvious choice. This XML writing standard based on modularity and reusability was an absolute game-changers for this team:
- Reuse mechanism: Critical information like ISO symbols or legal disclaimers are managed in reusable sources, referenced by other topics. Updates now propagate instantly and reliably across hundreds of documents.
- Filtering: Conditional attributes automatically apply region-specific or configuration-specific content, ensuring that regulatory requirements are included even if an author forgets.
- Easy publishing: DITA’s publication process eliminates the need for manual, cumbersome desktop publishing steps. In one click, the documents are perfectly rendered, significantly reducing time-to-market and inconsistencies.
The team adopted Componize CCMS as their central content management solution, leveraging structured DITA authoring even higher:
- Single source of truth: With all authors working in the same space, teams can now apply global updates once and roll them out gradually according to local regulatory timelines — without losing consistency.
- Native collaboration: Workflows, release management and translation management features in Componize CCMS streamline collaboration between authors and reviewers to ensure smooth processes and achieve a higher quality for documents.
Results: lower translation costs, faster timelines, higher accuracy
Since adopting Componize, the company has seen measurable and tangible benefits:
- 50% reduction in translation costs: Thanks to shared content across languages and the removal of manual desktop publishing.
- 60% faster translation timelines: Increased content reuse and automation have dramatically accelerated delivery.
- Higher accuracy and fewer inconsistencies: Shared topics and filtering now prevent errors before they happen: no more duplicate edits or lost updates across teams.
Some benefits, such as errors avoided and reduced audit risk, are harder to quantify. However, teams reported less rework and fewer publication issues as labeling updates scaled across regions :
“We are absolutely seeing benefits from our use of the system. We no longer have to make manual updates in hundreds of places. We can update a very small number of topics and then apply the updated content accurately across all of our labeling, even when different teams are working on the same changes over months or years.”
Continued support for a growing number of projects
Componize CCMS has become a critical part of the company’s labeling and documentation strategy.
It ensures consistency over time, enables cross-functional collaboration, and supports faster compliance with changing regulations — all while reducing operational costs and manual effort.
As the company continues to grow and expand globally, Componize empowers their teams to focus less on error-checking and rework, and more on delivering accurate, compliant content on time.
