Business Segments and Geographic Information - Segment and Geographic information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Business Segment Information
Net sales	$ 32,136	$ 32,765	$ 31,657
Operating Income	6,174	7,207	7,692
Assets	44,659	36,500	37,987
Depreciation and amortization	1,593	1,488	1,544
Capital expenditures	1,699	1,577	1,373
Property, Plant and Equipment - net	9,333	8,738
Business Segments. \| Safety and Industrial
Business Segment Information
Net sales	11,607	12,494	11,946
Operating Income	2,648	3,423	2,603
Assets	12,593	13,086	13,560
Depreciation and amortization	682	528	424
Capital expenditures	391	375	255
Business Segments. \| Transportation and Electronics
Business Segment Information
Net sales	9,602	10,106	9,861
Operating Income	2,221	2,649	2,986
Assets	7,611	7,773	7,786
Depreciation and amortization	324	337	437
Capital expenditures	390	339	382
Business Segments. \| Health Care
Business Segment Information
Net sales	7,431	6,826	6,635
Operating Income	1,863	1,921	1,877
Assets	15,210	7,092	7,258
Depreciation and amortization	277	216	257
Capital expenditures	264	245	217
Business Segments. \| Consumer
Business Segment Information
Net sales	5,089	5,086	5,006
Operating Income	1,105	1,071	1,051
Assets	2,792	2,963	2,909
Depreciation and amortization	91	97	117
Capital expenditures	130	115	110
Corporate and Unallocated
Business Segment Information
Net sales	110	50	2
Operating Income	(1,243)	(1,409)	(367)
Assets	6,453	5,586	6,474
Depreciation and amortization	219	310	309
Capital expenditures	524	503	409
Elimination of Dual Credit
Business Segment Information
Net sales	(1,703)	(1,797)	(1,793)
Operating Income	(420)	(448)	(458)
United States
Business Segment Information
Net sales	13,159	12,840	12,372
Property, Plant and Equipment - net	5,442	4,915
Asia Pacific
Business Segment Information
Net sales	9,796	10,254	9,809
Property, Plant and Equipment - net	1,637	1,624
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Business Segment Information
Net sales	6,226	6,654	6,456
Property, Plant and Equipment - net	1,823	1,751
Latin America and Canada
Business Segment Information
Net sales	2,965	3,024	3,033
Property, Plant and Equipment - net	431	448
Other Unallocated
Business Segment Information
Net sales	(10)	(7)	(13)
China/Hong Kong
Business Segment Information
Net sales	3,337	3,574	$ 3,255
Property, Plant and Equipment - net	$ 553	$ 542

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

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