<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 9/26/98 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> APR-1-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-26-1998 <CASH> 30,230 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 183,472 <ALLOWANCES> 5,014 <INVENTORY> 142,150 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 396,139 <PP&E> 557,698 <DEPRECIATION> 278,143 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 820,229 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 184,732 <BONDS> 135,123 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 18,964 <OTHER-SE> 426,039 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 820,229 <SALES> 546,065 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 546,065 <CGS> 391,649 <TOTAL-COSTS> 391,649 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 342 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,025 <INCOME-PRETAX> 62,328 <INCOME-TAX> 23,167 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 39,161 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 39,161 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.32 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.30