<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FILED AS
PART OF THE QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-29-2000
<CASH>                                          56,612
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  383,831
<ALLOWANCES>                                     4,608
<INVENTORY>                                    353,326
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               827,517
<PP&E>                                         648,935
<DEPRECIATION>                                 209,056
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,307,866
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          506,976
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           176
<OTHER-SE>                                     647,706
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   647,882
<SALES>                                      1,527,384
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,527,384
<CGS>                                        1,369,914
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,437,358
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 827
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 89,199
<INCOME-TAX>                                    28,775
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             60,424
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    60,424
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.33