Discontinued Operations Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	May 01, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	$ 10,296	$ 11,012
Inventories	27,798	25,876
Prepaid expenses	933	829
Deferred income tax benefits	1,372	1,351
Income tax refundable	0	2,378
Current Assets of Businesses Held for Sale	40,399	41,446
Net property, plant and equipment	22,634	28,893
Intangibles, net	32,804	41,214
Deferred income tax benefits	0	(30)
Other assets	1,514	1,600
Non-Current Assets of Businesses Held for Sale	56,952	71,677
Accounts payable	9,957	9,393
Accrued liabilities	4,224	4,798
Current Liabilities of Businesses Held for Sale	14,181	14,191
Deferred income tax liabilities	19,099	18,864
Other liabilities	328	12
Non-Current Liabilities of Businesses Held for Sale	19,427	18,876
Net Assets of Businesses Held for Sale	63,743	80,056
Avionics & Controls
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	3,352	5,154
Inventories	12,924	12,646
Prepaid expenses	295	408
Deferred income tax benefits	697	671
Income tax refundable	0	0
Current Assets of Businesses Held for Sale	17,268	18,879
Net property, plant and equipment	1,777	4,949
Intangibles, net	15,642	22,228
Deferred income tax benefits	0	0
Other assets	0	0
Non-Current Assets of Businesses Held for Sale	17,419	27,177
Accounts payable	3,314	2,194
Accrued liabilities	1,738	1,765
Current Liabilities of Businesses Held for Sale	5,052	3,959
Deferred income tax liabilities	11,148	11,084
Other liabilities	307	0
Non-Current Liabilities of Businesses Held for Sale	11,455	11,084
Net Assets of Businesses Held for Sale	18,180	31,013
Sensors & Systems
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	3,678	3,752
Inventories	9,141	7,972
Prepaid expenses	237	86
Deferred income tax benefits	675	680
Income tax refundable	0	0
Current Assets of Businesses Held for Sale	13,731	12,490
Net property, plant and equipment	3,990	4,105
Intangibles, net	10,205	10,659
Deferred income tax benefits	0	(30)
Other assets	0	0
Non-Current Assets of Businesses Held for Sale	14,195	14,734
Accounts payable	1,107	873
Accrued liabilities	1,018	1,008
Current Liabilities of Businesses Held for Sale	2,125	1,881
Deferred income tax liabilities	6,310	6,243
Other liabilities	21	0
Non-Current Liabilities of Businesses Held for Sale	6,331	6,243
Net Assets of Businesses Held for Sale	19,470	19,100
Advanced Materials
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	3,266	2,106
Inventories	5,733	5,258
Prepaid expenses	401	335
Deferred income tax benefits	0	0
Income tax refundable	0	2,378
Current Assets of Businesses Held for Sale	9,400	10,077
Net property, plant and equipment	16,867	19,839
Intangibles, net	6,957	8,327
Deferred income tax benefits	0	0
Other assets	1,514	1,600
Non-Current Assets of Businesses Held for Sale	25,338	29,766
Accounts payable	5,536	6,326
Accrued liabilities	1,468	2,025
Current Liabilities of Businesses Held for Sale	7,004	8,351
Deferred income tax liabilities	1,641	1,537
Other liabilities	0	12
Non-Current Liabilities of Businesses Held for Sale	1,641	1,549
Net Assets of Businesses Held for Sale	$ 26,093	$ 29,943