<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                          5
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
Condensed  Consolidated  Financial  Statements of the  Corporation for the three
months ended  December 28, 1996 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements </LEGEND>
<CIK>                                              0000886903
<NAME>                                             Kronos Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                                    1,000
<CURRENCY>                                               U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                                                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                   3-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                         Sep-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                            Oct-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                              Dec-28-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                     1
<CASH>                                                         13,587
<SECURITIES>                                                   20,200
<RECEIVABLES>                                                  29,956
<ALLOWANCES>                                                      977
<INVENTORY>                                                     4,534
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                               74,358
<PP&E>                                                         34,809
<DEPRECIATION>                                                 19,166
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                107,774
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                          38,999
<BONDS>                                                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                               0
<PREFERRED>                                                         0
<COMMON>                                                           81
<OTHER-SE>                                                     63,153
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                  107,774
<SALES>                                                        25,718
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                               37,110
<CGS>                                                           6,415
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                  14,245
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                   83
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                  0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                 3,536
<INCOME-TAX>                                                    1,350
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                             2,186
<DISCONTINUED>                                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                     0
<CHANGES>                                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                                    2,186
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    0.26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    0.26
        


</TABLE>