Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2016	Feb. 28, 2015	Feb. 29, 2016	Feb. 28, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 289,077	$ 437,449	$ 610,275	$ 991,073
Operating expense:
Cost of goods sold	259,670	406,649	544,524	914,664
Selling, general and administrative	33,599	42,167	72,017	86,898
(Income) loss from joint ventures	290	(609)	319	(1,109)
Goodwill impairment charge	8,845	141,021	8,845	141,021
Other asset impairment charges	18,458	43,838	18,458	43,838
Restructuring charges and other exit-related costs	5,291	5,394	7,216	5,987
Operating loss	(37,076)	(201,011)	(41,104)	(200,226)
Interest expense	(2,015)	(2,295)	(3,874)	(4,669)
Other income, net	438	1,993	845	2,925
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(38,653)	(201,313)	(44,133)	(201,970)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(1,293)	9,673	(715)	9,566
Loss from continuing operations	(39,946)	(191,640)	(44,848)	(192,404)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,024)	(4,242)	(1,089)	(5,080)
Net loss	(40,970)	(195,882)	(45,937)	(197,484)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(275)	240	(604)	(631)
Net loss attributable to SSI	$ (41,245)	$ (195,642)	$ (46,541)	$ (198,115)
Net loss per share attributable to SSI Basic:
Net loss per share from continuing operations attributable to SSI	$ (1.48)	$ (7.08)	$ (1.67)	$ (7.15)
Net loss per share from discontinued operations attributable to SSI	(0.04)	(0.16)	(0.04)	(0.19)
Net loss per share attributable to SSI	(1.52)	(7.24)	(1.71)	(7.34)
Net loss per share attributable to SSI Diluted:
Net loss per share from continuing operations attributable to SSI	(1.48)	(7.08)	(1.67)	(7.15)
Net loss per share from discontinued operations attributable to SSI	(0.04)	(0.16)	(0.04)	(0.19)
Net loss per share attributable to SSI	$ (1.52)	$ (7.24)	$ (1.71)	$ (7.34)
Weighted average number of common shares:
Basic	27,201	27,020	27,178	26,982
Diluted	27,201	27,020	27,178	26,982
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.1875	$ 0.1875	$ 0.3750	$ 0.3750