SEGMENT FINANCIAL DATA (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Reconciliation of segment profit to consolidated [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss	$ 5,357				$ 4,485				$ 5,357	$ 4,485	$ 3,991
Other income (expense)									33	69	28
Interest and other financial charges									(376)	(386)	(458)
Stock compensation (expense)									(168)	(163)	(117)
Pension (expense)									(105)	(185)	(287)
Pension Mark to Market									(1,802)	(471)	(741)
Other postretirement income (expense)									86	(29)	15
Repositioning and other charges									(743)	(598)	(467)
Income from continuing operations before taxes									2,282	2,722	1,964
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									28,745	25,242	22,957
Service sales									7,784	7,108	6,994
Revenues	9,473	9,298	9,086	8,672	8,749	8,139	7,926	7,536	36,529	32,350	29,951
Depreciation and amortization									948	970	936
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss	5,357				4,485				5,357	4,485	3,991
Capital expenditures									790	644	605
Total Assets	39,808				37,834				39,808	37,834	35,993
Aerospace [Member]
Reconciliation of segment profit to consolidated [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss	2,023				1,835				2,023	1,835	1,893
Repositioning and other charges									(29)	(32)	(31)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									6,494	5,868	5,930
Service sales									4,981	4,815	4,833
Revenues									11,475	10,683	10,763
Depreciation and amortization									208	224	217
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss	2,023				1,835				2,023	1,835	1,893
Capital expenditures									174	158	184
Total Assets	9,109				8,604				9,109	8,604	8,386
Automation and Control Solutions [Member]
Reconciliation of segment profit to consolidated [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss	2,083				1,770				2,083	1,770	1,588
Repositioning and other charges									(191)	(79)	(70)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									13,328	11,733	10,699
Service sales									2,207	2,016	1,912
Revenues									15,535	13,749	12,611
Depreciation and amortization									364	368	352
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss	2,083				1,770				2,083	1,770	1,588
Capital expenditures									153	131	114
Total Assets	19,127				18,183				19,127	18,183	15,474
Performance Materials And Technologies [Member]
Reconciliation of segment profit to consolidated [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss	1,042				749				1,042	749	605
Repositioning and other charges									(41)	(18)	(9)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									5,064	4,449	3,895
Service sales									595	277	249
Revenues									5,659	4,726	4,144
Depreciation and amortization									216	222	209
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss	1,042				749				1,042	749	605
Capital expenditures									282	188	153
Total Assets	5,402				4,938				5,402	4,938	4,657
Transportation Systems [Member]
Reconciliation of segment profit to consolidated [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss	485				353				485	353	61
Repositioning and other charges									(228)	(178)	(162)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									3,859	3,192	2,432
Service sales									0	0	0
Revenues									3,859	3,192	2,432
Depreciation and amortization									96	97	98
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss	485				353				485	353	61
Capital expenditures									133	78	66
Total Assets	1,991				1,806				1,991	1,806	1,680
Corporate [Member]
Reconciliation of segment profit to consolidated [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss	(276)				(222)				(276)	(222)	(156)
Repositioning and other charges									(254)	(291)	(195)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									0	0	0
Service sales									1	0	1
Revenues									1	0	1
Depreciation and amortization									64	59	60
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss	(276)				(222)				(276)	(222)	(156)
Capital expenditures									48	89	88
Total Assets	$ 4,179				$ 4,303				$ 4,179	$ 4,303	$ 5,796