SEGMENT FINANCIAL DATA (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Reconciliation of segment profit to consolidated [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss									$ 5,879,000,000	$ 5,357,000,000	$ 4,485,000,000
Other income (expense)									25,000,000	33,000,000	69,000,000
Interest and other financial charges									(351,000,000)	(376,000,000)	(386,000,000)
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Stock compensation expense									(170,000,000)	(168,000,000)	(163,000,000)
Repositioning and other charges									(443,000,000)	(743,000,000)	(598,000,000)
Income from continuing operations before taxes									3,875,000,000	2,282,000,000	2,722,000,000
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									29,812,000,000	28,745,000,000	25,242,000,000
Service sales									7,853,000,000	7,784,000,000	7,108,000,000
Net Sales	9,581,000,000	9,342,000,000	9,435,000,000	9,307,000,000	9,473,000,000	9,298,000,000	9,086,000,000	8,672,000,000	37,665,000,000	36,529,000,000	32,350,000,000
Depreciation and amortization									926,000,000	948,000,000	970,000,000
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss									5,879,000,000	5,357,000,000	4,485,000,000
Capital expenditures									884,000,000	790,000,000	644,000,000
Total Assets	41,853,000,000				39,808,000,000				41,853,000,000	39,808,000,000	37,834,000,000
Segment Financial Data Paragraph Details [Abstract]
Number Of Reportable Segments									4
Aerospace [Member]
Reconciliation of segment profit to consolidated [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss									2,279,000,000	2,023,000,000	1,835,000,000
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Repositioning and other charges									5,000,000	(29,000,000)	(32,000,000)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									6,999,000,000	6,494,000,000	5,868,000,000
Service sales									5,041,000,000	4,981,000,000	4,815,000,000
Net Sales									12,040,000,000	11,475,000,000	10,683,000,000
Depreciation and amortization									211,000,000	208,000,000	224,000,000
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss									2,279,000,000	2,023,000,000	1,835,000,000
Capital expenditures									191,000,000	174,000,000	158,000,000
Total Assets	8,977,000,000				9,109,000,000				8,977,000,000	9,109,000,000	8,604,000,000
Automation and Control Solutions [Member]
Reconciliation of segment profit to consolidated [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss									2,232,000,000	2,083,000,000	1,770,000,000
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Repositioning and other charges									(18,000,000)	(191,000,000)	(79,000,000)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									13,610,000,000	13,328,000,000	11,733,000,000
Service sales									2,270,000,000	2,207,000,000	2,016,000,000
Net Sales									15,880,000,000	15,535,000,000	13,749,000,000
Depreciation and amortization									352,000,000	364,000,000	368,000,000
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss									2,232,000,000	2,083,000,000	1,770,000,000
Capital expenditures									143,000,000	153,000,000	131,000,000
Total Assets	18,754,000,000				19,127,000,000				18,754,000,000	19,127,000,000	18,183,000,000
Performance Materials And Technologies [Member]
Reconciliation of segment profit to consolidated [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss									1,154,000,000	1,042,000,000	749,000,000
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Repositioning and other charges									(12,000,000)	(41,000,000)	(18,000,000)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									5,642,000,000	5,064,000,000	4,449,000,000
Service sales									542,000,000	595,000,000	277,000,000
Net Sales									6,184,000,000	5,659,000,000	4,726,000,000
Depreciation and amortization									215,000,000	216,000,000	222,000,000
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss									1,154,000,000	1,042,000,000	749,000,000
Capital expenditures									328,000,000	282,000,000	188,000,000
Total Assets	6,396,000,000				5,402,000,000				6,396,000,000	5,402,000,000	4,938,000,000
Transportation Systems [Member]
Reconciliation of segment profit to consolidated [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss									432,000,000	485,000,000	353,000,000
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Repositioning and other charges									(197,000,000)	(228,000,000)	(178,000,000)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									3,561,000,000	3,859,000,000	3,192,000,000
Service sales									0	0	0
Net Sales									3,561,000,000	3,859,000,000	3,192,000,000
Depreciation and amortization									85,000,000	96,000,000	97,000,000
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss									432,000,000	485,000,000	353,000,000
Capital expenditures									129,000,000	133,000,000	78,000,000
Total Assets	2,047,000,000				1,991,000,000				2,047,000,000	1,991,000,000	1,806,000,000
Corporate [Member]
Reconciliation of segment profit to consolidated [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss									(218,000,000)	(276,000,000)	(222,000,000)
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Repositioning and other charges									(221,000,000)	(254,000,000)	(291,000,000)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									0	0	0
Service sales									0	1,000,000	0
Net Sales									0	1,000,000	0
Depreciation and amortization									63,000,000	64,000,000	59,000,000
Segment Reporting Segment Profit Loss									(218,000,000)	(276,000,000)	(222,000,000)
Capital expenditures									93,000,000	48,000,000	89,000,000
Total Assets	5,679,000,000				4,179,000,000				5,679,000,000	4,179,000,000	4,303,000,000
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Benefit plans income/(expense)									(36,000,000)	(105,000,000)	(185,000,000)
Pension mark-to-market adjustment									(957,000,000)	(1,802,000,000)	(471,000,000)
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Profit Loss From Segment To Consolidated [Line Items]
Benefit plans income/(expense)									$ (72,000,000)	$ 86,000,000	$ (29,000,000)