Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 208,649	$ 240,395	$ 259,602
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	129,524	131,158	142,004
Impairment of assets sold		37,902
Net (gain) loss on sales of assets and businesses	(4,452)	(23,598)	1,925
Gain on cross-currency interest rate swaps, net		(30,481)
Stock-based compensation	21,475	22,902	18,146
Deferred income taxes	(11,964)	1,311	(10,065)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable	41,241	52,095	841
Unbilled receivables (contract assets)	(16,491)	(22,028)	(31,353)
Costs to fulfill a contract	(19,761)	(27,446)	(20,656)
Inventories	18,871	61,019	(49,185)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	61,793	(153,318)	48,004
Contract liabilities	24,848	25,882	29,082
Income taxes	21,509	(37,099)	2,083
Retirement benefit obligations	(6,848)	(3,777)	(3,705)
Other	(3,725)	74,574	3,885
Net cash provided by operating activities	464,669	349,491	390,608
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for purchase of property, plant, and equipment	(37,689)	(47,087)	(99,066)
Proceeds from sale of assets	154	30,173	1,010
Proceeds from business divestiture		10,443
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments	16,575	12,700	22,252
Payments for purchases of short-term investments	(14,337)	(13,109)	(26,723)
Net cash used in investing activities	(35,297)	(6,880)	(102,527)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash dividends paid	(36,041)	(37,664)	(39,066)
Proceeds from sales of treasury stock	34,706	24,969	36,044
Payments for repurchases of common stock	(33,344)	(13,346)	(110,311)
Borrowings on revolving lines of credit and short-term borrowings	74,400	1,248,135	1,683,542
Payments on revolving lines of credit and short-term borrowings	(74,400)	(1,510,746)	(1,690,035)
Payments of long-term debt and finance lease obligations	(101,639)	(1,590)	(143,535)
Payments for debt financing costs			(2,238)
Net cash used in financing activities	(136,318)	(290,242)	(265,599)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	2,138	1,828	(7,003)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	295,192	54,197	15,479
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, at beginning of year	153,270	99,073	83,594
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, at end of year	$ 448,462	$ 153,270	$ 99,073