XML 22 R48.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 28, 2013 item | Dec. 29, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Fiscal year |  |  |
Length of fiscal year | 364 days | 364 days | 371 days
Additional net sales due to extra week in fiscal period |  |  | $ 50,000
Additional net earnings due to extra week in fiscal period |  |  | 3,000
Cash overdrafts |  |  |
Cash book overdrafts | 21,713 | 23,321 |
Segments |  |  |
Number of reportable segments | 4 |  |
Maximum percentage of sales of other businesses and activities to consolidated sales as basis for aggregation | 10.00% |  |
Inventories |  |  |
Inventory valued at the lower of cost, determined on the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method, or market (as a percent) | 43.00% | 43.00% |
Excess of replacement cost of inventories over the LIFO value | $ 45,204 | $ 45,822 |
Minimum |  |  |
Principles of Consolidation |  |  |
Equity method investment in affiliates, ownership percentage | 20.00% |  |
Fiscal year |  |  |
Length of fiscal year | 364 days |  |
Maximum |  |  |
Principles of Consolidation |  |  |
Equity method investment in affiliates, ownership percentage | 50.00% |  |
Cost method investment in affiliates, ownership percentage | 20.00% |  |
Fiscal year |  |  |
Length of fiscal year | 371 days |  |

X
- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of payments made in excess of existing cash balances, which will be honored by the bank but reflected as a loan to the entity. Overdrafts generally have a very short time frame for correction or repayment and are therefore more similar to short-term bank financing than trade financing. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Current Liabilities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509677 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361426&loc=d3e1243-112600 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BankOverdrafts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The excess of replacement or current cost over the stated LIFO (last in first out) inventory value when the LIFO inventory method is utilized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph c -Article 5 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ExcessOfReplacementOrCurrentCostsOverStatedLIFOValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_InventoryDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The percentage of LIFO (last in first out) inventory to total inventory as of the balance sheet date if other than 100 percent. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PercentageOfLIFOInventory
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SegmentReportingAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowingsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the additional consolidated profit or loss during the extra week in the fiscal period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vmi_AdditionalProfitLoss
Namespace Prefix: | vmi_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the additional aggregate revenue during the extra week in the fiscal period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vmi_AdditionalSalesRevenueGoodsNet
Namespace Prefix: | vmi_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the ownership percentage of common stock in the investee accounted under the cost method of accounting. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vmi_CostMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | vmi_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | vmi_FiscalPeriodAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | vmi_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the length of fiscal year of the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vmi_LengthOfFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix: | vmi_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The maximum percentage of sales of individual business activities to total consolidated sales of operating segments that do not meet the quantitative thresholds and thus are not classified as reportable segments. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vmi_PercentageOfSalesToTotalConsolidatedSalesOfOtherBusinessActivitiesAggregatedAsOtherMaximum
Namespace Prefix: | vmi_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration