Based in Andover, Hants and employing approximately 250 members of staff, the role of the Medical Supplies Agency, part of the Ministry of Defence, is to ensure that various medical equipment and support is provided to the UK Armed Forces, worldwide.

Medical, dental and veterinary materiel, blood and blood products, technical and medical logistics support and trained personnel are all controlled and issued through the Agency. Issues of aspirins through to entire Containerised Operating Theatres are made around the clock.

Following a management decision, it was decided that the Agency required an improved method to the way in which they tracked their fixed assets. After a recommendation of the Hardcat Fixed Asset Tracking System by a third party, the Agency approached Hardcat's UK agents Requisoft plc for an improved solution to the way in which they tracked their assets.

Before the introduction of the Hardcat System, the Agency tracked their assets by way of manual accounts, a method that is currently still in use, due to certain MoD policies.

The Hardcat team installed the Hardcat Core System plus the Bar-coding Module at the Agency’s offices. Once the implementation was complete, the details of approximately 3000 items were logged. These items included all domestic equipment with a value of £100 and over, which were considered at risk of theft. These items included furniture, PC’s, electrical and mobile equipment.

With the Hardcat System now fully up and running, the Agency now have clear visibility of all their assets and their whereabouts. "The implementation of this system has enabled us to track our assets quickly and effectively, explained Major David Greenslade ", he continued, "The Hardcat System is easy to use and will make a great saving in the time taken to carry out an audit. Previously, it has taken a team of between 10-12 people six weeks to carry out a full audit of our equipment. Now, with the use of the Hardcat System, it is possible for this task to be carried out by one person over the space of approximately one week".

The implementation of the Hardcat Fixed Asset Tracking System has improved the Agency’s control of their assets dramatically. Its consistent use will make dramatic time-savings, enabling staff to dedicate more of their time to other aspects of their roles within the Medical Supplies Agency. Major Greenslade commented, "I am very pleased with the progress we have made with the Hardcat System and the increased productivity that it’s implementation has brought, I have no hesitation in recommending the product to other departments within my organisation and to other business contacts outside of the MoD".