Accounts Receivable and Inventories

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Accounts Receivable and Inventories [Abstract]

Accounts receivable consist of the following:



	Accounts Receivable
(In thousands)	December 31 2014			December 31 2013
Trade accounts receivable	$	340,223		$	359,819
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	(15,119		)	(6,638		)
Trade accounts receivable, net	$	325,104		$	353,181

Other receivables (a)	$	28,145		$	46,470


(a)	Other receivables include insurance claim receivables, employee receivables, tax claim receivables and other miscellaneous receivables not included in Trade accounts receivable, net.

The following table reflects the provision for doubtful accounts related to trade accounts receivable for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:



	Years Ended December 31
(In thousands)	2014		2013		2012
Provision for doubtful accounts related to trade accounts receivable	$	9,892	$	10,175	$	11,266

Inventories consist of the following:



	Inventories
(In thousands)	December 31 2014		December 31 2013
Finished goods	$	30,001	$	23,112
Work-in-process	28,644		25,623
Raw materials and purchased parts	86,898		72,118
Stores and supplies	31,722		34,836
Total inventories	$	177,265	$	155,689
Valued at lower of cost or market:
LIFO basis	$	107,691	$	94,939
FIFO basis	13,383		9,859
Average cost basis	56,191		50,891
Total inventories	$	177,265	$	155,689

Inventories valued on the LIFO basis at December 31, 2014 and 2013 were approximately $33 million and $28 million, respectively, less than the amounts of such inventories valued at current costs.

During 2014, as a result of reducing certain inventory quantities valued on the LIFO basis, net loss decreased from that which would have been recorded under the FIFO basis of valuation by $0.1 million. During 2013, there was no significant impact on net loss as a result of reducing certain inventory quantities valued on a LIFO basis. During 2012, as a result of reducing certain inventory quantities valued on the LIFO basis, net loss decreased from that which would have been recorded under the FIFO basis of valuation by $0.1 million.