Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Business Segment Information
Net sales	$ 8,075	$ 7,863
Operating Income	1,663	1,136
Assets	46,212		$ 44,659
Depreciation and amortization	440	375
Capital expenditures	332	391
Property, Plant and Equipment - net	9,165		$ 9,333
Business Segments. \| Safety and Industrial
Business Segment Information
Net sales	2,935	2,963
Operating Income	726	637
Business Segments. \| Transportation and Electronics
Business Segment Information
Net sales	2,238	2,355
Operating Income	484	522
Business Segments. \| Health Care
Business Segment Information
Net sales	2,103	1,738
Operating Income	456	464
Business Segments. \| Consumer
Business Segment Information
Net sales	1,256	1,200
Operating Income	269	235
Corporate and Unallocated
Business Segment Information
Net sales	1	22
Operating Income	(156)	(625)
Elimination of Dual Credit
Business Segment Information
Net sales	(458)	(415)
Operating Income	$ (116)	$ (97)

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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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets.

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Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

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Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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