<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
                              THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY
                              FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
                              FROM THE AUGUST 31, 2000, FORM 10-K
                              AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
                              BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
                              STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLARS

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 SEP-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   AUG-31-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                                  0
<SECURITIES>                                            0
<RECEIVABLES>                                     740,026
<ALLOWANCES>                                            0
<INVENTORY>                                       832,687
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                1,825,429
<PP&E>                                          1,787,614
<DEPRECIATION>                                    960,652
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  3,282,187
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           1,610,527
<BONDS>                                           646,160
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                   0
<PREFERRED>                                       100,000
<COMMON>                                          522,876
<OTHER-SE>                                        258,355
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    3,282,187
<SALES>                                        12,054,396
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               12,238,963
<CGS>                                          11,608,029
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  11,767,482
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 99,991
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   (82,627)
<INCOME-TAX>                                       21,482
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               (29,250)
<DISCONTINUED>                                          0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                         0
<CHANGES>                                               0
<NET-INCOME>                                      (29,250)
<EPS-BASIC>                                             0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           0