SEGMENT INFORMATION - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011 Segment	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Jan. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2011 Segment	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Reportable operating segments	4								4
Revenues	$ 1,081,343,000	$ 1,076,247,000	$ 1,060,083,000	$ 1,029,169,000	$ 901,373,000	$ 869,029,000	$ 855,461,000	$ 869,884,000	$ 4,246,842,000	$ 3,495,747,000	$ 3,481,823,000
Operating profit									117,568,000	108,839,000	92,107,000
Engineering
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Revenues									899,381,000	382,629,000	341,462,000
Operating profit									33,384,000	22,931,000	20,346,000
Engineering | Reclassifications
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Revenues										31,800,000	35,800,000
Operating profit										1,000,000	700,000
Corporate
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Revenues									1,210,000	1,373,000	2,017,000
Operating profit									(88,662,000)	(84,324,000)	(95,915,000)
Gain related to the settlement									$ 2,700,000