4 Int. J. Services Technology and Management, Vol. 24, Nos. 1/2/3, 2018 Copyright © 2018 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Building supply chain quality management theory from case study in China Haiju Hu Research Center for Regional Economic Development, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao Hebei 066004, China and Economics and Management School, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao Hebei 066004, China Email: huhaiju@ysu.edu.cn Xiande Zhao* China Europe International Business School, Shanghai, 201206, China Email: xiande@ceibs.edu *Corresponding author Abstract: In view of the inconsistency on the definition and key components of supply chain quality management (SCQM), this study is conducted to make up the deficiency. The research team collected the data using semi-structural interviews of four supply chains from food, toy, automobile and pharmaceutical industries in China. Based on within- and cross-case analysis, six key components of SCQM (supply chain leadership on quality, internal quality integration, strategic supply chain design for quality, upstream quality management system, downstream quality management system and product recall system) were identified. Finally, a definition and its holistic framework of SCQM were proposed. Compared with the existing research, the components identified in this study were more comprehensive, and it can facilitate the operationalisation of the construct and help to develop a high quality measurement scale. Practically, the SCQM framework proposed in this study will provide guidelines for the managers to build up an effective SCQM system. Keywords: case study; supply chain quality management; SCQM; framework of supply chain quality management; product recalls; China. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Hu, H. and Zhao, X. (2018) ‘Building supply chain quality management theory from case study in China’, Int. J. Services Technology and Management, Vol. 24, Nos. 1/2/3, pp.4–29. Biographical notes: Haiju Hu is a Lecturer in the Economics and Management School at the Yanshan University, China. She received her PhD in Business School with a major in Operations Management from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Master’s in Management Science and Engineering and Bachelor in Electronic Commerce from Nankai University, China. Her research