Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 29, 2012

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Consolidation Policy - Our consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our majority-owned subsidiaries in which we have a controlling interest after the elimination of all material inter-company accounts and transactions. Currently, all of our subsidiaries are wholly-owned. We also consolidate other entities and ventures in which we possess a controlling interest. We evaluate our financial interests in business enterprises to determine if they represent variable interest entities where we are the primary beneficiary. If such criteria are met, we consolidate the financial statements of such businesses with those of our own. We do not currently hold such interests.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and cash equivalents - Cash and cash equivalents include all cash on hand, demand deposits and investments with original maturities of three months or less. We consider cash equivalents to include short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.  The Company is required to collateralize letters of credit outstanding under the Ex-Im Bank Facility with cash or eligible receivables resulting from the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) project. As of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, these letters of credit were collateralized by $6.1 and 2.3 million, respectively in cash, designated as Restricted Cash in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet. Refer to Note 10.

The Company utilizes a cash management system whereby bank accounts are swept daily to reduce outstanding balances on the Company's line of credit. Major operating bank accounts are automatically replenished daily to meet check-clearing requirements. Outstanding checks are recorded as a reduction of cash when they are issued. Our checks that have not yet been paid by banks at a reporting date are reclassified to accounts payable in the financial statements. Amounts reclassified to accounts payable for outstanding checks were $1.4 million and $1.9 million as of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

Receivables, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Receivables - Our components of trade receivables includes amounts billed, amounts unbilled, retainage and allowance for doubtful accounts. Subject to our allowance for uncollectible accounts, all amounts are believed to be collectible within a year. There are no amounts unbilled representing claims or other similar items subject to uncertainty concerning their determination or ultimate realization. In estimating the allowance for uncollectible accounts, we consider the length of time receivable balances have been outstanding, historical collection experience, current economic conditions and customer specific information. When we ultimately conclude that a receivable is uncollectible, the balance is charged against the allowance for uncollectible accounts.

Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Concentration of Credit Risk - Financial instruments which potentially subject ENGlobal to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of trade accounts and notes receivable. Although our services are provided largely to the energy sector, management believes the risk due to this concentration is limited because a significant portion of our services are provided under contracts with major integrated oil and gas companies and other industry leaders. When the Company enters into contracts with smaller customers, it incurs an increased credit risk.

We extend credit to customers and other parties in the normal course of business. We have established various procedures to manage our credit exposure, including initial credit approvals, credit limits and terms, letters of credit, and occasionally through rights of offset. We also use prepayments and guarantees to limit credit risk to ensure that our established credit criteria are met. Our most significant exposure to credit risks relates to situations under which we provide services early in the life of a project that is dependent on financing. Certain of these development projects are susceptible to unforeseen delays and other issues that expose us to reduced margins and possible losses. Risks increase in times of general economic downturns and under conditions that threaten project feasibility.

Estimated losses on accounts receivable are provided through an allowance for doubtful accounts. In evaluating the level of established allowances, we make judgments regarding each party's ability to make required payments, economic events and other factors. As the financial condition of any party changes, circumstances develop or additional information becomes available, adjustments to the allowance for doubtful accounts may be required.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property and Equipment - Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated service lives of our asset groups are as follows:

Asset Group	Years
Shop equipment		7-10
Furniture and fixtures		5-7
Computer equipment; Autos and trucks		3-5
Software		3-5

Leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of the related lease. See Note 7 for details related to property and equipment and related depreciation. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Upon disposition or retirement of property and equipment, any gain or loss is charged to operations.

Debt, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Debt Issue Costs - Costs incurred in connection with the issuance of long-term debt are capitalized and charged to interest expense over the term of the related debt on a straight-line basis, which approximates the interest method. The total amount of debt issue costs capitalized was $870,000 and $0 in 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill and other intangible assets - Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of acquisitions over the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is not amortized and is tested at least annually for impairment. In September 2010, the FASB issued guidance which gives companies the option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount and, in some cases, bypass the two-step impairment test. This guidance is effective for goodwill impairment tests performed in interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2012.

We perform a test for impairment each fiscal year and in any period in which impairment indicators arise. The impairment test requires allocating goodwill and all other assets and liabilities to business units referred to as reporting units. Reporting units for the purpose of goodwill impairment calculations are components one level below our reportable operating segments for which discreet financial information is available and reviewed by segment management. The fair value of each reporting unit is determined and compared to the carrying value of the reporting unit. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, including goodwill, then the goodwill is written down to the implied fair value of the goodwill through a charge to expense.

Intangible assets are comprised primarily of non-competition covenants, customer relationships and developed technology acquired through acquisitions and are amortized using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful life of the intangible assets.  We review intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. This review consists of comparing the carrying value of the asset with the asset's expected future undiscounted cash flows. Estimates of expected future cash flows represent management's best estimate based on reasonable and supportable assumptions. If such a review should indicate that the carrying amount of intangible assets is not recoverable, we reduce the carrying amount of such assets to fair value.

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets - Management reviews property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. The carrying amount is deemed not recoverable if it exceeds the undiscounted sum of the cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. Estimates of expected future cash flows represent management's best estimate based on reasonable and supportable assumptions. If the carrying amount is not recoverable, the impairment loss is measured as the excess of the asset's carrying value over its fair value. Management assesses the fair value of long-lived assets using commonly accepted techniques, and may use more than one method, including, but not limited to, recent third party comparable sales, internally developed discounted cash flow analysis and analysis from outside advisors.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition - Our revenue is comprised of engineering, construction management and procurement service fees and sales of control systems that we design and fabricate. In general, we recognize revenues when all of the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an exchange arrangement exists, if applicable, (2) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (3) the price is fixed or determinable, and (4) collection is reasonably assured. The Company recognizes service revenue as the services are performed. The majority of the Company's engineering services are provided under time-and-material contracts. Some time-and-material contracts may have upper limits referred to as "not-to-exceed" amounts. Revenue is not recognized over these amounts until a change order or authorization by the client has been given. A majority of sales of fabricated systems are under fixed-price contracts that may also include a service element covered under that contract price.

We sometimes serve as purchasing agent by procuring subcontractors, materials and equipment on behalf of a client and pass the cost on to the client with no mark-up or profit. Revenues and costs for these “pass-through” transactions are reported net.  We had $3.6 million of pass-through transactions in 2011.

Profits and losses on our fixed-price contracts are recognized on the percentage-of-completion method of accounting, measured by the percentage-of-contract cost incurred to date relative to estimated total contract cost. Contract costs used for estimating percentage-of-completion factors include professional compensation and related benefits, materials, subcontractor services and other direct cost of projects. Freight charges and inspection costs are charged directly to the projects to which they relate. Costs recognized for labor include all actual employee compensation plus a burden factor to cover estimated variable labor expenses. These variable labor expenses consist of payroll taxes, self-insured medical plan expenses, workers' compensation insurance, general liability insurance and paid time off. These estimated amounts are adjusted to actual costs incurred at the end of each quarter.

Under the percentage-of-completion method, revenue recognition is dependent upon the accuracy of a variety of estimates, including the progress of engineering and design efforts, material installation, labor productivity, cost estimates and others. These estimates are based on various professional judgments and are difficult to accurately determine until projects are significantly underway. Due to uncertainties inherent to the estimation process, it is possible that actual percentage-of-completion may vary materially from our estimates. Estimating errors may cause errors in revenue recognition on uncompleted contracts and may even result in losses on the contracts. Anticipated losses on uncompleted contracts are charged to operations as soon as such losses can be estimated. Changes in job performance, job conditions, estimated profitability and final contract settlements may result in revisions to costs and revenues and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined.  Costs related to change orders are recognized when they are incurred. Change orders are included in the total estimated contract revenue when it is more likely than not that the change orders will result in a bona fide addition to value that can be reliably estimated.

Occasionally, it is appropriate for us to combine or segment contracts. Contracts are combined in those limited circumstances when they are negotiated as a package in the same economic environment with an overall profit margin objective and constitute, in essence, an agreement to do a single project. In such cases, we recognize revenue and cost over the performance period of the combined contracts as if they were one. Contracts may be segmented if the customer has the right to accept separate elements of a contract and the total economic returns and risks of the separate contract elements are similar to the economic returns and risks of the overall contract. For segmented contracts, we recognize revenue as if they were separate contracts over the performance periods of the individual elements or phases.

Precontract Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Pre-Contract Costs - The Company expenses pre-contract costs, also referred to as proposal costs, as they are incurred. Pre-contract costs incurred for a specific anticipated contract and that will result in no future benefits, unless the contract is obtained, should not be included in contract costs or inventory before the receipt of the contract. Costs related to anticipated contracts are charged to expenses as incurred because recovery is not considered probable and such expenses are not reinstated by a credit to income on the subsequent receipt of the contract.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes - The Company accounts for deferred income taxes in accordance with the asset and liability method, whereby deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the respective tax basis of its assets and liabilities. The provision for income taxes represents the current taxes payable or refundable for the period plus or minus the tax effect of the net change in the deferred tax assets and liabilities during the period. Valuation allowances are provided for deferred tax assets when their recovery is doubtful.

The Company files income tax returns in federal, state and foreign jurisdictions as more fully described in Note 15. It has not taken an uncertain tax position as defined by authoritative accounting literature and does not expect to take such a position on a tax return not yet filed.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Earnings (loss) per share - The Company's basic earnings (loss) per share (EPS) amounts have been computed based on the average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS amounts include the effect of common stock equivalents associated with outstanding stock options, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units under the treasury stock method, if including such potential shares of common stock is dilutive. Because the Company has incurred losses for all periods presented, these common stock equivalents were antidilutive, thus not included in the calculation of earnings (loss) per share.

Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Comprehensive Loss - Comprehensive loss includes net loss and other comprehensive income (loss) items. Currently our other comprehensive loss is comprised of unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses.  In June 2011, the FASB issued guidance which revises the manner in which entities present comprehensive income in their financial statements. The new guidance eliminates the presentation option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in stockholders' equity and requires entities to report components of comprehensive income in either a continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate, but consecutive, statements. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2012 and the adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.