Restructuring Charges - Restructuring Reserve Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	24 Months Ended
	Jan. 29, 2016		Jan. 30, 2015	Oct. 30, 2015	Oct. 28, 2016
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Costs incurred	$ 26,659		$ 665
Other Restructuring Costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Amount expected	1,800
Employee Severance and Termination Costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Amount expected	71,115
Amount incurred	21,153			$ 31,376
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning accrual	13,613
Costs incurred	11,471
Costs paid/settled	(11,303)
Other adjustments	(2,544)
Effect of foreign currency translation	(46)
Ending accrual	11,191			13,613
Accelerated Depreciation
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Amount expected	15,958
Amount incurred	4,779			2,079
Special Termination Benefits
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Costs incurred	9,600			2,600
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Costs incurred					$ 90,000
Restructuring cash costs					$ 74,000
Underground Mining Machinery [Member] | Other Restructuring Costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Amount incurred	700
Underground Mining Machinery [Member] | Employee Severance and Termination Costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Amount expected	50,420
Amount incurred	20,194	[1]		16,340
Underground Mining Machinery [Member] | Accelerated Depreciation
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Amount expected	15,358
Amount incurred	4,779			2,079
Surface Mining Equipment [Member] | Employee Severance and Termination Costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Amount expected	17,715
Amount incurred	564			12,451
Surface Mining Equipment [Member] | Accelerated Depreciation
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Amount expected	600
Amount incurred	0			0
Corporate Segment [Member] | Employee Severance and Termination Costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Amount expected	2,980
Amount incurred	395			2,585
Corporate Segment [Member] | Accelerated Depreciation
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Amount expected	0
Amount incurred	$ 0			$ 0

[1] * The amount incurred during the quarter ended January 29, 2016 includes $9.6 million of expenses for special termination benefits under the Joy Global qualified pension plan as part of continued restructuring activities in our Underground division. As noted below, amounts accrued for special termination benefits are included in our retiree benefit liabilities.