Note 13 - Business Unit Segment Information (Detail) - Business Unit Segment Information (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2012		Oct. 01, 2011		Sep. 29, 2012		Oct. 01, 2011
Net sales	$ 172,688		$ 173,987		$ 509,119		$ 517,762
Depreciation and amortization	7,969		8,305		23,486		23,810
Operating income	30,931		29,574		88,851		95,783
Interest expense	454		414		1,298		1,271
Other (income) expense, net	(516)		(1,897)		(1,172)		(1,934)
Income before income taxes	30,993		31,057		88,725		96,446
Electronics [Member]
Net sales	87,779		96,288		254,342		282,032
Depreciation and amortization	5,115		5,940		15,713		16,616
Operating income	17,186		18,610		43,075		56,974
Automotive [Member]
Net sales	51,878		47,703		155,954		151,957
Depreciation and amortization	1,911		1,442		4,862		4,481
Operating income	7,018		6,456		23,489		24,580
Electrical [Member]
Net sales	33,031		29,996		98,823		83,773
Depreciation and amortization	943		923		2,911		2,713
Operating income	8,235		7,472		23,795		21,467
All Other Segments [Member]
Operating income	$ (1,508)	[1]	$ (2,964)	[1]	$ (1,508)	[1]	$ (7,238)	[1]

[1] Included in "Other" operating income for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2012 are acquisitions related fees of $0.6 million, impairment charges of $0.5 million as described in Note 10, and a non-cash charge of $0.4 million for the sale of inventory that had been stepped-up to fair value at the acquisition date of Accel as required by purchase accounting rules. As the inventory was sold, the non-cash charge impacted operating income. Included in "Other" operating income for the three and nine months ended October 1, 2011 are asset impairment charges of $2.3 million, as discussed in Note 11. Included in "Other" operating income for the nine months ended October 1, 2011 are acquisition related fees of $1.0 million and a non-cash charge of $3.7 million for the sale of inventory that had been stepped-up to fair value at the acquisition date of Cole Hersee in 2010 as required by purchase accounting rules. As the inventory was sold, the non-cash charge impacted operating income.