<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> FEB-28-1998 <CASH> 26,767 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 4,344,791 <ALLOWANCES> 130,000 <INVENTORY> 9,082,410 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 14,428,169 <PP&E> 13,145,401 <DEPRECIATION> 8,909,559 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 19,336,028 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 5,637,154 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 53,038 <OTHER-SE> 11,960,356 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 19,336,028 <SALES> 17,276,380 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 17,276,380 <CGS> 15,472,213 <TOTAL-COSTS> 15,472,213 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (45,086) <LOSS-PROVISION> 130,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 203,738 <INCOME-PRETAX> (963,432) <INCOME-TAX> (93,395) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (870,037) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (870,037) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.16) <EPS-DILUTED> (.16)