Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Nov. 30, 2016	Nov. 30, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues		$ 334,161	$ 321,198
Operating expense:
Cost of goods sold		295,892	284,854
Selling, general and administrative		37,492	38,418
(Income) loss from joint ventures		(412)	29
Other asset impairment charges		401	0
Restructuring charges and other exit-related activities		201	1,925
Operating income (loss)		587	(4,028)
Interest expense		(1,741)	(1,859)
Other income, net		437	407
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes		(717)	(5,480)
Income tax benefit		62	578
Loss from continuing operations		(655)	(4,902)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(53)	(65)
Net loss		(708)	(4,967)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(618)	(329)
Net loss attributable to SSI		$ (1,326)	$ (5,296)
Net loss per share attributable to SSI Basic:
Loss per share from continuing operations attributable to SSI		$ (0.05)	$ (0.19)
Loss per share from discontinued operations attributable to SSI		0.00	0.00
Net loss per share attributable to SSI	[1]	(0.05)	(0.20)
Net loss per share attributable to SSI Diluted:
Loss per share from continuing operations attributable to SSI		(0.05)	(0.19)
Loss per share from discontinued operations attributable to SSI		0.00	0.00
Net loss per share attributable to SSI	[1]	$ (0.05)	$ (0.20)
Weighted average number of common shares:
Basic		27,372	27,121
Diluted		27,372	27,121
Dividends declared per common share		$ 0.1875	$ 0.1875

[1] May not foot due to rounding.