Restructuring Programs

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

In recent years, the Company has instituted restructuring programs to balance short-term profitability goals with long-term strategies. A primary objective of these programs has been to establish platforms upon which the affected businesses can grow with reduced fixed investment and generate annual operating expense savings. The restructuring programs have been instituted in response to the continuing impact of global financial and economic uncertainty on the Company’s end markets. Restructuring costs incurred in these programs were recorded in, Other expenses, of the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The timing of associated cash payments is dependent on the type of restructuring cost and can extend over a multi-year period.

Project Orion

Under Project Orion, the Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment made organizational and process improvement changes that are expected to improve its return on capital and deliver a higher and more consistent level of service to customers. These changes include improving several core processes and simplifying the organizational structure. During the fourth quarter of 2015, Project Orion was expanded with additional targeted workforce and operational savings of $20 million to $25 million. The majority of these benefits have been realized in 2016.

The restructuring accrual for Project Orion at December 31, 2016 and 2015 and the activity for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:



(In thousands)	Employee Termination Benefit Costs
Balance January 1, 2015	$	7,668
Expense incurred	5,070
Other adjustments	(1,003		)
Cash expenditures	(5,854		)
Foreign currency translation	(74		)
Balance, December 31, 2015	5,807
Other adjustments	(47		)
Cash expenditures	(5,413		)
Foreign currency translation	29
Balance, December 31, 2016	$	376