Cost in Excess of Net Assets of Companies Acquired - Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
December 31, 2013	$ 2,039,293	[1]
Acquisitions	85,737
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(48,338)
September 27, 2014	2,076,692	[1]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	1,018,780
Global Components [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
December 31, 2013	1,000,860	[1]
Acquisitions	56,510
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(4,877)
September 27, 2014	1,052,493	[1]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	716,925
Global ECS [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
December 31, 2013	1,038,433	[1]
Acquisitions	29,227
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(43,461)
September 27, 2014	1,024,199	[1]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	$ 301,855

[1] The total carrying value of cost in excess of net assets of companies acquired for all periods in the table above is reflected net of $1,018,780 of accumulated impairment charges, of which $716,925 was recorded in the global components business segment and $301,855 was recorded in the global ECS business segment.