Segment Information (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item
All other operating segments	$ 2,029	$ 2,035
Items not included in segment assets:
Cash and short-term investments	2,810	1,829
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Investment in Financial Products	0	0
Deferred income taxes	3,565	3,576
Goodwill, intangible assets and other assets	3,988	4,461
Operating lease methodology difference	(549)	(511)
Liabilities included in segment assets	13,061	12,088
Inventory methodology differences	(3,164)	(2,786)
Other	(119)	25
Total assets	88,838	81,446
Reportable segments
Items not included in segment assets:
Total assets	67,217	60,729
Machinery and Power Systems
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item
All other operating segments	2,029	2,035
Items not included in segment assets:
Cash and short-term investments	2,810	1,829
Intercompany receivables	54	75
Investment in Financial Products	4,011	4,035
Deferred income taxes	4,107	4,109
Goodwill, intangible assets and other assets	3,988	4,461
Operating lease methodology difference	(549)	(511)
Liabilities included in segment assets	13,061	12,088
Inventory methodology differences	(3,164)	(2,786)
Other	96	362
Total assets	59,209	54,679
Machinery and Power Systems | Reportable segments
Items not included in segment assets:
Total assets	32,766	28,982
Financial Products
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item
All other operating segments	0	0
Items not included in segment assets:
Cash and short-term investments	0	0
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Investment in Financial Products	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Goodwill, intangible assets and other assets	0	0
Operating lease methodology difference	0	0
Liabilities included in segment assets	0	0
Inventory methodology differences	0	0
Other	(137)	(194)
Total assets	34,314	31,553
Financial Products | Reportable segments
Items not included in segment assets:
Total assets	34,451	31,747
Consolidating Adjustments
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item
All other operating segments	0	0
Items not included in segment assets:
Cash and short-term investments	0	0
Intercompany receivables	(54)	(75)
Investment in Financial Products	(4,011)	(4,035)
Deferred income taxes	(542)	(533)
Goodwill, intangible assets and other assets	0	0
Operating lease methodology difference	0	0
Liabilities included in segment assets	0	0
Inventory methodology differences	0	0
Other	(78)	(143)
Total assets	(4,685)	(4,786)
Consolidating Adjustments | Reportable segments
Items not included in segment assets:
Total assets	$ 0	$ 0