CABO · Certification Process
Six stages.
One certification.
The CABO certification pathway moves organisations from operational baseline through formal certification and into continuous assurance. Each stage has defined inputs, activities, and evidence outputs.
Assessment
4 – 6 weeks
Gap Identification
2 – 4 weeks
Operational Alignment
3 – 9 months
Audit Validation
3 – 5 weeks
Certification Issued
2 – 3 weeks
Continuous Assurance
Ongoing
Stage 01
Assessment
Initial review of the current operational state across Governance, Operations, Execution, and Assurance.
Activities
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Stakeholder interviews across leadership, operations, and depot teams
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Document review of governance, scheduling, SOPs, and performance reporting
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Depot, OCC, and on-road observation visits
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Data sample pull for OTP, incident, and resource metrics
Outputs
Operational baseline report
Pillar-level maturity scoring
Headline findings & risks
Stage 02
Gap Identification
Detailed analysis of gaps between current state and CABO certification requirements.
Activities
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Map every gap to the G-O-E-A pillar and sub-domain
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Severity scoring against CABO thresholds
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Prioritisation based on operational and certification impact
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Validation workshops with operator leadership
Outputs
Gap register with owner & severity
Prioritised remediation roadmap
Evidence-readiness scorecard
Stage 03
Operational Alignment
Structured programme to close identified gaps through process, capability, and system change.
Activities
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SOP and governance document rebuild where required
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Scheduling, rostering, and control system reconfiguration
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Training, capability uplift, and shift handover discipline
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Evidence portfolio build for assurance readiness
Outputs
Revised SOPs & governance
Aligned schedules & control processes
Evidence portfolio ready for audit
Stage 04
Audit Validation
Independent audit to validate that operational standards meet CABO certification thresholds.
Activities
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Independent audit team review of evidence portfolio
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Live operation audit visits across depot, OCC, and field
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Sample testing of controls and response protocols
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Audit findings workshop and remediation of any minor gaps
Outputs
Formal audit report
Conformity decision per pillar
Residual action list (if any)
Stage 05
Certification Issued
Formal certification issued against the G-O-E-A framework, with clear scope and validity period.
Activities
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Certification decision review
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Scope statement — covering services, depots, and regions
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Validity period and re-certification triggers
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Issue of certificate and supporting certification pack
Outputs
CABO certificate
Certification scope statement
Public registry entry
Stage 06
Continuous Assurance
Performance monitoring, periodic re-assessment, and re-certification cycles.
Activities
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Quarterly performance review against certification commitments
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Annual surveillance audit
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Full re-certification cycle on a defined cadence
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Remediation cycles for significant operational change
Outputs
Surveillance audit reports
Re-certification pack
Continuous improvement log
Typical Duration
6 – 12 months from assessment to certification.
Duration depends on the scale of the operation, the current maturity of the four pillars, and the pace at which gaps can be closed. Continuous assurance is an ongoing cycle following certification.