United States
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. _)*

Name of Issuer - Kadant Inc.

Title or Class of Securities - Common Stock

CUSIP Number - 48282T104

Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this
statement [  ].

Cusip No. 48282T104

Page 2 of 6 Pages

1.   Name of  Reporting  Person  (S.S.  or  I.R.S.  Identification  No. of above
     person)

     American Century Investment Management, Inc. - 44-0640487


2.   Check the appropriate box if a member of a group* - N/A

3.   SEC Use Only

4.   Citizenship or place of organization

     Delaware


5.   Sole voting power

     699,500

6.   Shared voting power

     0

7.   Sole dispositive power

     699,500

8.   Shared dispositive power

     0

9.   Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person

     699,500

10.  Check box if the aggregate amount in Row (9) excludes certain shares

     N/A


11.  Percent of class represented by amount in Row 9

     5.72%

12.  Type of reporting person*

     IA


Cusip No. 48282T104

Page 3 of 6 Pages

1.   Name of  Reporting  Person  (S.S.  or  I.R.S.  Identification  No. of above
     person)

     American Century Capital Portfolios, Inc. - 43-1646043


2.   Check the appropriate box if a member of a group* - N/A

3.   SEC Use Only

4.   Citizenship or place of organization

     Maryland


5.   Sole voting power

     670,000

6.   Shared voting power

     0

7.   Sole dispositive power

     670,000

8.   Shared dispositive power

     0

9.   Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person

     670,000

10.  Check box if the aggregate amount in Row (9) excludes certain shares

     N/A


11.  Percent of class represented by amount in Row 9

     5.48%

12.  Type of reporting person*

     IV

SCHEDULE 13G


Item 1(a).   NAME OF ISSUER

     Kadant Inc.

Item 1(b).   ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES

     245 Winter St
     Waltham, MA  02454

Item 2(a).   NAME OF PERSONS FILING

     American Century Investment  Management,  Inc., on its behalf and on behalf
     of:

     American Century Capital Portfolios, Inc. - 43-1646043



Item 2(b).   ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE, RESIDENCE

     4500 Main Street
     P.O. Box 418210
     Kansas City, MO 64141-9210
     Attn:  Charles C.S. Park


Item 2(c).   CITIZENSHIP

     Delaware


Item 2(d).   TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES

     Common Stock


Item 2(e).     CUSIP NO.

     48282T104


Item 3.   IF THIS  STATEMENT  IS FILED  PURSUANT TO RULES  13d-1(b) OR 13d-2(b),
          CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A

     (g)  [ X ]   Registered Investment Adviser, in accordance with
               Rule 13d-1(b)(ii)(E) (Note:  See Item 7).


Item 4.   OWNERSHIP

     (a)  Aggregate amount beneficially owned:

          699,500

     (b)  Percent of class:

          5.72%

     (c)  Number of shares as to which such person has:

          (i)  sole power to vote or to direct the vote:

               699,500

          (ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote:

               0

          (iii)sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:

               699,500

          (iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:

               0

Item 5.   OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS

     If this  statement  is being  filed to report  the fact that as of the date
hereof the reporting  person has ceased to be the beneficial  owner of more than
five percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ].


Item 6.   OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON

     American  Century  Investment  Management,   Inc.  ("ACIM"),  a  registered
investment adviser, manages, pursuant to management agreements,  the investments
of fourteen  registered  investment  companies,  American  Century Mutual Funds,
Inc.,  American  Century  World Mutual Funds,  Inc.,  American  Century  Capital
Portfolios,  Inc., American Century Variable Portfolios,  Inc., American Century
Variable Portfolios II, Inc., American Century Premium Reserves,  Inc., American
Century  Strategic Asset  Allocations,  Inc.,  American Century Municipal Trust,
American Century Quantitative Equity Funds, Inc., American Century International
Bond Funds, Inc., American Century Investment Trust, American Century Government
Income Trust,  American  Century Target  Maturities  Trust, and American Century
California  Tax-Free  and  Municipal  Funds,  Inc.,  and  manages,  pursuant  to
sub-advisory   agreements,   the  investments  of  eight  registered  investment
companies,  American Skandia Trust,  American Skandia Advisor Funds, Inc., Style
Select Series,  Inc.,  Mainstay VP Series Fund, Inc.,  Principal Investors Fund,
Inc.,  North American  Funds Variable  Product Series I, Season Series Trust and
AXP  Partners  International  Series,  Inc.  ACIM  also  manages  the  assets of
institutional  investor  accounts.  The securities  that are the subject of this
report  are  owned  by and  held  for such  investment  companies  and  separate
institutional investor accounts. Any dividends received from such securities, or
the  proceeds  of any sale of such  securities,  are for the benefit of, and are
held for such investment companies and separate institutional investor accounts.

     American Century Capital  Portfolios,  Inc. owned more than 5% of the class
of securities which are the subject of this report.


Item 7.   IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE
          SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY

     N/A


Item 8.   IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP

     N/A


Item 9.   NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP

     N/A


Item 10.  CERTIFICATION

     By signing  below I certify  that,  to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the  securities  referred  to above  were  acquired  in the  ordinary  course of
business  and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of
changing or  influencing  the control of the issuer of such  securities and were
not acquired in connection  with or as a participant in any  transaction  having
such purpose or effect.


SIGNATURE

     After  reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my  knowledge  and belief,  I
certify that the information  set forth in this statement is true,  complete and
correct.



February 8, 2002             AMERICAN CENTURY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
     Date

                               By: /s/Charles C.S. Park

                                   Charles C.S. Park
                                   Assistant General Counsel



EXHIBIT A

Rule 13d-1(f)(1)(iii) Agreement


     Each of the  undersigned  hereby  agrees and consents to the  execution and
joint filing on its behalf by American Century  Investment  Management,  Inc. of
this Schedule 13G respecting the  beneficial  ownership of the securities  which
are the subject of this schedule at December 31, 2001.

     Dated this 8th day of February, 2002.

                                American Century Investment Management, Inc.


                                By: /s/Charles C.S. Park

                                    Charles C.S. Park
                                    Assistant General Counsel



                                American Century Capital Portfolios, Inc.


                                By: /s/Charles C.S. Park

                                    Charles C.S. Park
                                    Vice President