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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]      
Minimum ownership of entities that do not have a non-controlling interest (in hundredths) 100.00%vsh_MinimumOwnershipOfFullyControlledEntities    
Royalty revenues $ 4,525us-gaap_RoyaltyRevenue $ 6,362us-gaap_RoyaltyRevenue $ 7,131us-gaap_RoyaltyRevenue
Research and development expense 65,299us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense 62,090us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense 57,164us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
Minimum number of months until maturity from original purchase date for a highly liquid investment to be considered a short-term investment (in months) 3 months    
Bad debt expense (424)us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts 62us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts (24)us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Estimated cost to complete construction in progress 40,980vsh_EstimatedCostToCompleteConstructionInProgress    
Depreciation expense 160,804us-gaap_Depreciation 155,064us-gaap_Depreciation 153,801us-gaap_Depreciation
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Cash and investments restricted for potential insurance claims 7,309us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsCurrent 7,927us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsCurrent  
Outstanding claim accrual 0vsh_OutstandingClaimAccrual 0vsh_OutstandingClaimAccrual  
Goodwill impairment charge $ 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss $ 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss $ 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
Minimum [Member] | Patents and Acquired Technology [Member]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life 7 years    
Minimum [Member] | Capitalized Software [Member]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life 3 years    
Minimum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life 5 years    
Minimum [Member] | Non-competition Agreements [Member]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life 3 years    
Maximum [Member] | Patents and Acquired Technology [Member]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life 25 years    
Maximum [Member] | Capitalized Software [Member]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life 10 years    
Maximum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life 20 years    
Maximum [Member] | Non-competition Agreements [Member]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life 10 years    
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful Life 7 years    
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful Life 10 years    
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful Life 20 years    
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Useful Life 40 years