Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 28, 2020	Mar. 30, 2019
Operating Activities
Net Income Attributable to Kadant	$ 12,531	$ 10,900
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	125	165
Net income	12,656	11,065
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	7,598	8,231
Stock-based compensation expense	1,639	1,553
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	103	64
Gain on sale of property, plant, and equipment	(10)	(200)
Other items, net	(877)	596
Changes in current assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisition:
Accounts receivable	1,929	(1,190)
Unbilled revenue	844	(1,055)
Inventories	(3,735)	(3,263)
Other current assets	(1,107)	(189)
Accounts payable	(3,440)	3,872
Other current liabilities	(9,431)	(9,608)
Net cash provided by operating activities	6,169	9,876
Investing Activities
Acquisition, net of cash acquired	0	(175,288)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(2,686)	(2,168)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment	14	293
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,672)	(177,163)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term obligations	0	189,000
Repayment of long-term obligations	(2,969)	(6,404)
Dividends paid	(2,628)	(2,444)
Tax withholding payments related to stock-based compensation	(2,318)	(2,647)
Proceeds from issuance of Company common stock	913	723
Payment of debt issuance costs	0	(36)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(7,002)	178,192
Exchange Rate Effect on Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash	(2,693)	153
(Decrease) Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash	(6,198)	11,058
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Period	68,273	46,117
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at End of Period	$ 62,075	$ 57,175