Cost in Excess of Net Assets of Companies Acquired - Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 28, 2015
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
December 31, 2014	$ 2,069,209	[1]
Acquisitions	90,878
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(57,895)
March 28, 2015	2,102,192	[1]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	1,018,780
Global Components [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
December 31, 2014	1,051,783	[1]
Acquisitions	90,864
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(4,556)
March 28, 2015	1,138,091	[1]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	716,925
Global ECS [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
December 31, 2014	1,017,426	[1]
Acquisitions	14
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(53,339)
March 28, 2015	964,101	[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.