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Note 8 - Guarantees and Obligations
9 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements  
Commitments Contingencies and Guarantees [Text Block]
8.
Guarantees and Other Obligations
 
Product Warranty
 
Our products are generally sold with warranty periods that range from 12 to 36 months following sale or acceptance. Parts and labor are covered under the terms of the warranty agreement. The warranty provision is based on historical and projected experience by product and configuration. Changes in accrued warranty were as follows
(
in thousands
)
:
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 26,
   
September 27,
   
September 26,
   
September 27,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 5,212     $ 4,244     $ 5,848     $ 4,673  
Warranty expense accruals
    1,867       1,590       5,062       3,832  
Warranty payments
    (1,905 )     (1,152 )     (5,736 )     (3,823 )
Balance at end of period
  $ 5,174     $ 4,682     $ 5,174     $ 4,682  
 
Accrued warranty amounts expected to be incurred after one year are included in non-current other accrued liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. These amounts total $1.2 million at September 26, 2015 and $1.0 million at December 27, 2014.  Prior-period long-term accrued warranty amounts have been reclassified to a long term liability in the December 31, 2014 balance sheet to conform to the current period presentation.  This reclassification had no effect on previously reported net income and is considered immaterial.
 
Standby Letters of Credit
 
From time-to-time, during the ordinary course of business, we provide standby letters of credit for certain contingent liabilities under contractual arrangements, including customer contracts. As of September 26, 2015, the maximum potential amount of future payments that Cohu could be required to make under these standby letters of credit was approximately $0.2 million. We have not recorded any liability in connection with these guarantee arrangements beyond that required to appropriately account for the underlying transaction being guaranteed. We do not believe, based on historical experience and information currently available, that it is probable that any amounts will be required to be paid under these arrangements.