When chance guides you right
We are about to meet yet another one of our experts for a better tomorrow. Heading north to the Swedish university town of Uppsala, known for Studenternas hosting both football and bandy, where the Fyris River accompanies you through the city we find Sigma Industry East North. Here, we’ve arranged to meet one of their experts for a better future, Arne Boman.
This Norrbotten-born, holding a PhD in Chemistry from Luleå, graduated from Umeå University in autumn 1999. But it didn’t take long before he moved south, taking a job at a newly established research company in the pharmaceutical industry. As the seventh employee in the company, Arne’s role was to structure and organise the laboratories and substance library. Before long, he became an invaluable part of the company, well-versed in most aspects. This probably explains why, when the company sadly went bankrupt a few years later, Arne was hired by the bankruptcy trustee to sort out the assets and patents. Ultimately, this turn of events led Arne and a few of his former colleagues to purchase the substance library and establish a company that enjoyed a successful decade-long collaboration with a company in Lund.
“It was shortly after the bankruptcy that I received the call and was offered the job with the bankruptcy trustee. It wasn’t something I had ever considered, and that’s when it became clear that there were parts worth salvaging. So, it was more or less by chance that I stumbled into my next ten years in the pharmaceutical industry,” says Arne, reflecting on how he found his footing in the industry before becoming a consultant.

After ten years, Arne and his colleagues sold the company to their collaborative partner in Lund and he started his own small consultancy firm. He enjoyed consulting but, like many driven and skilled experts, he wanted to focus on what he does best without needing to market himself and his services. This motivated him to seek a new direction, one where he could work as a consultant, specialising in his field, but within a larger framework.
“I saw an advert on LinkedIn where Sigma was looking for a consultant in Life Sciences here in Uppsala. It sounded exciting, and it seemed like the larger context I was seeking. So, I applied for the job and got it,” Arne explains about his start at Sigma Industry East North.
To gain a clearer understanding of Arne’s relationship with details and his preference for working with the smallest of building blocks, we ask him about the specialisation he chose for his doctoral studies. For those of us less familiar with chemistry, our idea of “small” is still significantly larger than Arne’s definition.
“When I started studying, I thought I wanted to work with biochemistry. But it didn’t take long for me to realise that organic chemistry was more interesting. Here, you gain a deeper understanding of chemical reactions, and if you want to find big solutions, you have to look at the smallest components, not the large molecules of biochemistry. It’s at the molecular level that the real fun happens,” says Arne, smiling.
Arne joined Sigma in 2019 and has just completed his first assignment while starting his second. His initial role involved being hired as an interim manager and supporting the customer’s microbiologist. The tasks quickly expanded, and Arne’s competence, precision, and thoroughness were greatly appreciated. He became responsible for everything from document structures to sterilisation processes, method validation, and cleanroom procedures.

“There’s been a lot of documentation, structure building, and process descriptions, which is a big part of the pharmaceutical industry, where every step must be validated and documented. And I enjoy thoroughly and methodically finding the best solutions and pathways forward,” Arne says of his assignments.
Arne also enjoys working as a consultant, where his experience from one assignment enhances his competence for the next. This process of building a knowledge bank creates new opportunities to contribute to the client’s business and operations. He also values the chance to work within a larger framework with his Sigma colleagues, sharing experiences and supporting each other.
“We’re a group at Sigma that regularly meet, discuss, and help one another. Even though I spend a lot of time at the client’s site, I greatly benefit from the collaboration with my fellow Sigma consultants,” Arne explains about the teamwork at Sigma.
When Arne isn’t sharing his knowledge and expertise, he enjoys spending time with his family, who share his love for nature and outdoor activities. Hunting, fishing, and skiing are pursuits they enjoy together. During summer visits to his home region of Norrbotten, the forest and Råne River beckon with their natural beauty, pike, and perch. He is delighted to see how his children look forward to these trips as well.
“We’re a group at Sigma that regularly meet, discuss, and help one another. Even though I spend a lot of time at the client’s site, I greatly benefit from the collaboration with my fellow Sigma consultants.”
“There’s something special about unwinding in nature. A tough skiing trip, despite the challenges, is pure relaxation. It’s a moment to disconnect from everything else and reconnect with the peace and tranquillity of nature,” Arne says about his love for the outdoors.
Arne has just started a new assignment focusing on workplace safety in the Life Sciences industry. His guiding documents and processes help clients maintain quality and ensure a safe environment for both people and products. And when it comes to creating precise structures, Arne, with his calm and expertise, is the person you’d want to turn to.
“I truly appreciate the opportunity to contribute to a better tomorrow. Every day, I get the chance to make a significant impact and brighten the future in an industry that helps so many people,” Arne concludes before we thank him for this conversation. A conversation that so clearly highlights the wealth of expertise, knowledge, and competence present at our Sigma offices.
