Note 5 - Accounts Receivable, Concentrations of Credit Risk and Inventories (Tables)
 3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2011
Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Table Text Block]
 
 
November 30,
2011
   
August 31,
2011
 
Trade accounts receivable, net
  $ 704,480     $ 732,134  
Unbilled accounts receivable
    10,366       23,116  
Retainage
    17,271       16,992  
Total accounts receivable, including retainage, net
  $ 732,117     $ 772,242  
Allowance for Credit Losses on Financing Receivables [Table Text Block]
   
2011
 
Beginning balance, September 1
  $ 22,350  
Increased provision
    886  
Write offs
    (924 )
Recovery
    (345 )
Other
    (3,838 )
Ending balance, November 30
  $ 18,129  
Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]
 
 
November 30, 2011
   
August 31, 2011
 
 
 
 
Weighted
Average
   
FIFO
   
Total
   
Weighted
Average
   
FIFO
   
Total
 
Raw materials
  $ 19,583     $ 129,244     $ 148,827     $ 16,040     $ 118,516     $ 134,556  
Work in process
    2,920       33,519       36,439       2,878       25,483       28,361  
Finished goods
    78,505       —       78,505       82,127       —       82,127  
Total
  $ 101,008     $ 162,763     $ 263,771     $ 101,045     $ 143,999     $ 245,044