International Journal of Academic and Applied Research (IJAAR)   Year: 2020 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 1 | Page No.: 47-52 Gap Analysis, Corrective Actions to Reduce the Wastage of Potatoes Returned From Lanka Sathosa Limited Sales Outlets Rifky A.L.Ma and Mubarak A.J.Hb Abstract: This study was carried out to reduce the wastage of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L) returned back from Lanka Sathosa Limited (LSL) sales outlets. Preliminary study was carried out to identify the root cause by using a brain storming sessions with employees and observed that; sprouted, rotten, dirty skin, shrunken nature of potatoes were major defects among returned potatoes. Existing condition of the factors inducing the poor quality nature of potatoes were analyzed using 60 pre-tested questionnaires within the warehouse employees. It was observed that; poor quality of the potatoes during receiving, improper machinery used and insufficient vehicles, improper stock handling system, improper handling of the bags during loading and unloading and poor warehouse and storage conditions were the gaps between acceptable level and existing condition. Also a fish bone diagram was constructed to identify the root causes to implement the corrective action exactly (4Ms and Environment). Possible corrective actions were implemented to improve the root causes observed and monitored continuously. It revealed that; the conditions were improved and quality gaps were reduced significantly (P<0.05) by having a significant differences in the amount of returned potatoes. Also, there were significant differences (P<0.05) observed in the quality parameters such as freshness, skin colour, size and moisture. Also defects such as sprouted, rotten, dirty skin, small or large tubers, high external moisture, high internal moisture, tubers with cut or damages were observed with significant differences (P<0.05) while no significant differences observed in defects such as low customer preference and problems with packaging, before and after the project. This study concluded that, considerable quality losses of potatoes, sold by LSL sales outlets were dramatically reduced after this project.