Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 236,553	$ 266,686	$ 244,662	$ 246,821	$ 257,458	$ 295,732	$ 284,282	$ 276,272	$ 985,494	$ 1,122,972		$ 1,087,859
Gross profit	44,657	48,509	46,827	46,647	46,770	54,488	52,797	50,763	184,901	206,557		206,641
Operating and administrative expenses	49,863	45,052	46,853	45,444	45,273	46,006	46,107	45,708	187,433	182,873		180,009
Restructuring and other related costs	3,604	3,573	566	0	47	0	(298)	370	4,217	3,645		5,716
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived		3,800
Impairment	0	14,653	21,537	0	0	0	0	0	21,537	14,653		0
Loss on disposition	0		0	0	310				310	0		0
Operating profit (loss)	(8,810)	(14,769)	(22,129)	1,203	1,140	8,482	6,988	4,685	(28,596)	5,386	[1],[2]	20,916	[1],[2]
Income (loss) before income taxes (4)	(9,348)	(14,790)	(21,446)	1,106	1,153	8,349	6,996	4,603	(28,535)	5,158		20,648
Net income (loss)	(17,114)	(8,917)	(20,202)	(157)	387	5,441	4,452	2,041	(37,086)	3,017		12,948
Net income attributable to CDI	$ (17,114)	$ (8,782)	$ (20,202)	$ (157)	$ 470	$ 5,400	$ 4,427	$ 2,037	$ (37,003)	$ 3,082		$ 12,884
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.87)	$ (0.45)	$ (1.03)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.02	$ 0.28	$ 0.23	$ 0.10	$ (1.88)	$ 0.16		$ 0.66
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.87)	$ (0.45)	$ (1.03)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.02	$ 0.27	$ 0.22	$ 0.10	$ (1.88)	$ 0.16		$ 0.65
Pretax gain on sale of assets									$ 800
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities									(1,236)	$ (75)		$ (142)
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Increase (Decrease), Amount	$ 11,800								15,000
Operating and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Earnings (loss) per common share:
CEO Compensation - Net Income					$ 900
CEO Compensation - Net Income, Pre Tax					700
CEO Compensation - Net Income, Net of Tax					400
CEO Separation - DTA Write-off					$ 500
Benefit related to settlement												3,300
Year-End Adjustment [Member]
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Fair value of contingent consideration												1,800
GETS [Member]
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
Revenue									326,127	335,382		321,289
Gross profit									83,686	90,104		89,801
Restructuring and other related costs									2,185	2,244		2,412
Operating profit (loss)									(10,536)	(8,256)		11,398
PSS [Member]
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
Revenue									606,207	728,686		708,598
Gross profit									75,065	88,738		89,546
Restructuring and other related costs									1,182	1,001		2,269
Operating profit (loss)									$ (3,021)	$ 24,594		$ 21,032

[1] In 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded pre-tax charges of $4.2 million, $3.6 million and $5.7 million, respectively, to "Restructuring and other related costs" related to the 2015, 2014 and 2013 Restructuring Plans. The following table summarizes the amount of restructuring and other related costs recognized by reporting segment for the indicated periods: Year ended December 31, 2015 2014 2013 GETS $2,185 $2,244 $2,412PSS 1,182 1,001 2,269MRI — 259 313Corporate 850 141 722Restructuring and other related costs $4,217 $3,645 $5,716

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