How to Keep the First Page Simple in EPC Project Dashboards

EPC projects are rarely simple. With multiple critical paths, overlapping scopes, dependencies between engineering, procurement, and construction, and a long list of open risks, it’s easy to lose clarity in progress reporting. But that’s exactly why your first page should be simple.

EPC projects are rarely simple. With multiple critical paths, overlapping scopes, dependencies between engineering, procurement, and construction, and a long list of open risks, it’s easy to lose clarity in progress reporting. But that’s exactly why your first page should be simple.

The first page of any EPC progress report should act like a quick introduction. It’s not meant to explain every issue—it’s meant to give a reliable, clean overview of where the project stands.

So how do you build a dashboard that reflects this level of simplicity and precision?

First, start by visualizing the overall progress percentages. A doughnut chart is often a perfect fit—it’s intuitive, easy to read, and instantly gives a sense of how much has been achieved versus what remains.

Second, include the classic performance composite chart. This typically combines monthly Planned Value and Earned Value as bar charts, along with their respective S-curves. This visual provides a timeline view of how the project is performing across reporting periods.

Third, show the key earned value indicators—specifically the accumulated Planned Value, Earned Value, and the Schedule Variance. Place these values near the graph to reinforce the visual with numerical context.

Fourth, add a simple progress comparison bar chart. By placing the overall planned percentage beside the actual achieved percentage, you immediately highlight whether the project is on track, behind, or ahead.

With these four simple elements, your dashboard is now capable of telling the full story in one glance—without overloading the reader.

In summary, even in complex EPC environments, a clean and informative first page is possible—and essential. Keep it focused, visual, and aligned with project priorities.

Now your dashboard is not only informative—it’s presentation-ready.