Property, Plant and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consists of the following (in thousands):

	August 31,
	2018		2017
Land and improvements	$	144,136	$	120,574
Buildings	849,975		804,861
Leasehold improvements	1,013,428		877,752
Machinery and equipment	3,983,025		3,680,881
Furniture, fixtures and office equipment	192,243		178,603
Computer hardware and software	601,955		583,569
Transportation equipment	17,215		22,080
Construction in progress	42,984		85,748
	6,844,961		6,354,068
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	3,646,945		3,125,390
	$	3,198,016	$	3,228,678

Depreciation and maintenance and repair expenses were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

	Fiscal Year Ended August 31,
	2018		2017		2016
Depreciation expense	$	735,213	$	724,856	$	659,542
Maintenance and repair expense	$	266,691	$	234,332	$	197,373

As of August 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had $253.6 million and $242.2 million, respectively, included in accounts payable for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment, which is considered a non-cash investing activity in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.