Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 259,602	$ 180,378	$ 200,507
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	142,004	116,131	80,917
Gain due to curtailment of postretirement plan		(330)
Net loss (gain) on sales of assets	1,925	(1,106)	(3,604)
Stock-based compensation	18,146	18,229	17,282
Deferred income taxes	(10,065)	(30,177)	22,772
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable	841	(6,494)	(53,151)
Unbilled receivables (contract assets)	(31,353)
Costs to fulfill a contract	(20,656)
Inventories	(49,185)	(7,660)	(10,857)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	48,004	(2,284)	64,659
Contract liabilities	29,082	(1,596)	(1,292)
Income taxes	2,083	35,641	3,323
Retirement benefit obligations	(3,705)	(4,653)	(2,932)
Other	3,885	3,213	(10,087)
Net cash provided by operating activities	390,608	299,292	307,537
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for purchase of property, plant, and equipment	(99,066)	(127,140)	(92,336)
Proceeds from sale of assets	1,010	1,923	3,743
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments	22,252	9,088	5,313
Payments for purchases of short-term investments	(26,723)	(9,323)	(8,586)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(771,115)
Net cash used in investing activities	(102,527)	(896,567)	(91,866)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash dividends paid	(39,066)	(34,003)	(29,745)
Proceeds from sales of treasury stock	36,044	9,132	14,195
Payments for repurchases of common stock	(110,311)		(71,751)
Borrowings on revolving lines of credit and short-term borrowings	1,683,542	1,930,261	1,506,000
Payments on revolving lines of credit and short-term borrowings	(1,690,035)	(1,691,934)	(1,630,100)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		400,000
Payments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(143,535)	(421)	(412)
Payments of debt financing costs	(2,238)	(1,494)
Payment for forward option derivative instrument		(5,543)
Net cash used in financing activities	(265,599)	605,998	(211,813)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(7,003)	(12,681)	2,604
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	15,479	(3,958)	6,462
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, at beginning of year	83,594	87,552	81,090
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, at end of year	$ 99,073	$ 83,594	$ 87,552