SEGMENT FINANCIAL REPORTING (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 7,332,000,000	$ 7,308,000,000	$ 22,184,000,000	$ 21,267,000,000
Service sales	2,010,000,000	1,990,000,000	5,900,000,000	5,789,000,000
Revenues	9,342,000,000	9,298,000,000	28,084,000,000	27,056,000,000
Total segment profit	1,475,000,000	1,367,000,000	4,383,000,000	3,928,000,000
Other income	4,000,000	8,000,000	18,000,000	36,000,000
Interest and other financial charges	(88,000,000)	(90,000,000)	(264,000,000)	(285,000,000)
Stock compensation expense	(40,000,000)	(38,000,000)	(131,000,000)	(129,000,000)
Pension ongoing expense	(7,000,000)	(26,000,000)	(29,000,000)	(83,000,000)
Other postretirement income/(expense)	(20,000,000)	82,000,000	(52,000,000)	109,000,000
Repositioning and other charges	(100,000,000)	(410,000,000)	(356,000,000)	(637,000,000)
Income from continuing operations before taxes	1,224,000,000	893,000,000	3,569,000,000	2,939,000,000
Aerospace [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales	1,733,000,000	1,660,000,000	5,188,000,000	4,685,000,000
Service sales	1,310,000,000	1,262,000,000	3,832,000,000	3,743,000,000
Revenues	3,043,000,000	2,922,000,000	9,020,000,000	8,428,000,000
Total segment profit	582,000,000	532,000,000	1,678,000,000	1,450,000,000
Repositioning and other charges	0	(38,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(32,000,000)
Automation and Control Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales	3,392,000,000	3,388,000,000	10,050,000,000	9,855,000,000
Service sales	566,000,000	560,000,000	1,658,000,000	1,629,000,000
Revenues	3,958,000,000	3,948,000,000	11,708,000,000	11,484,000,000
Total segment profit	571,000,000	544,000,000	1,587,000,000	1,499,000,000
Repositioning and other charges	0	(137,000,000)	(9,000,000)	(182,000,000)
Performance Materials And Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales	1,344,000,000	1,300,000,000	4,229,000,000	3,812,000,000
Service sales	134,000,000	168,000,000	410,000,000	417,000,000
Revenues	1,478,000,000	1,468,000,000	4,639,000,000	4,229,000,000
Total segment profit	275,000,000	254,000,000	944,000,000	819,000,000
Repositioning and other charges	1,000,000	(28,000,000)	(13,000,000)	(41,000,000)
Transportation Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales	863,000,000	960,000,000	2,717,000,000	2,915,000,000
Service sales	0	0	0	0
Revenues	863,000,000	960,000,000	2,717,000,000	2,915,000,000
Total segment profit	104,000,000	121,000,000	338,000,000	368,000,000
Repositioning and other charges	(48,000,000)	(120,000,000)	(160,000,000)	(196,000,000)
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales	0	0	0	0
Service sales	0	0	0	0
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Total segment profit	(57,000,000)	(84,000,000)	(164,000,000)	(208,000,000)
Repositioning and other charges	$ (53,000,000)	$ (87,000,000)	$ (173,000,000)	$ (186,000,000)