<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1998 <CASH> 117,840 <SECURITIES> 11,088 <RECEIVABLES> 6,424,005 <ALLOWANCES> 190,000 <INVENTORY> 9,189,973 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 16,391,425 <PP&E> 16,217,627 <DEPRECIATION> 9,117,371 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 23,519,946 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 8,334,031 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 53,038 <OTHER-SE> 11,745,883 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 23,519,946 <SALES> 50,666,085 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 50,666,085 <CGS> 45,612,279 <TOTAL-COSTS> 45,612,279 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (44,409) <LOSS-PROVISION> 190,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 558,863 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1,403,118) <INCOME-TAX> (318,609) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,084,509) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (1,084,509) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.20) <EPS-DILUTED> (.20)