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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)
3 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Schedule of Product Warranty Liability [Table Text Block]
Product Warranty Liability
The following table presents accrued product warranty and deferred warranty revenue activity:
 
Three Months Ended January 31,
(in millions)
2016
 
2015
Balance at beginning of period
$
994

 
$
1,197

Costs accrued and revenues deferred
26

 
50

Currency translation adjustment
(1
)
 
(2
)
Adjustments to pre-existing warranties(A)
5

 
(57
)
Payments and revenues recognized
(102
)
 
(105
)
Balance at end of period
922

 
1,083

Less: Current portion
421

 
497

Noncurrent accrued product warranty and deferred warranty revenue
$
501

 
$
586

_________________________
(A)
Adjustments to pre-existing warranties reflect changes in our estimate of warranty costs for products sold in prior periods. Such adjustments typically occur when claims experience deviates from historic and expected trends. Our warranty liability is generally affected by component failure rates, repair costs, and the timing of failures. Future events and circumstances related to these factors could materially change our estimates and require adjustments to our liability. In addition, new product launches require a greater use of judgment in developing estimates until historical experience becomes available.
In the first quarter of 2015, we recorded a benefit for adjustments to pre-existing warranties of $57 million or $0.70 per diluted share. The impact of income taxes on the adjustments are not material due to our deferred tax valuation allowances on our U.S. deferred tax assets.