Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 02, 2016	Apr. 04, 2015
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 570,606	$ 593,436
Costs of products sold	433,297	448,398
Gross profit	137,309	145,038
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	90,286	96,070
Restructuring and severance costs	6,475	1,410
Operating income	40,548	47,558
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(6,466)	(6,361)
Other	779	3,460
Gain on early extinguishment of debt	3,611	0
Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total	(2,076)	(2,901)
Income before taxes	38,472	44,657
Income tax expense	10,320	13,732
Net earnings	28,152	30,925
Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	138	226
Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ 28,014	$ 30,699
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ 0.19	$ 0.21
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ 0.19	$ 0.20
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	147,833	147,698
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	150,628	152,666
Cash dividends per share	$ 0.0625	$ 0.0600