<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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-30-1998
<CASH>                                          13,016
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  184,069
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,276
<INVENTORY>                                    146,272
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               358,408
<PP&E>                                         350,904
<DEPRECIATION>                                 104,408
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 616,309
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          255,944
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            37
<OTHER-SE>                                     267,756
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   616,309
<SALES>                                        447,941
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               447,941
<CGS>                                          397,366
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  416,750
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,520
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 29,671
<INCOME-TAX>                                    10,385
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             19,286
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    19,286
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.52
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.50