Bar code symbol reading system supporting visual or/and audible display of product scan speed for throughput optimization in point of sale (POS) environments

A bar code symbol reading system for installation at a POS station, comprising:

• a system housing;
• a bar code symbol reading subsystem, disposed in said system housing, for reading bar code symbols objects being transported through a 3D volume definable relative to said system housing, and producing symbol character data representative of said read bar code symbols;
• at least one object motion sensor, disposed in said system housing, for automatically measuring or estimating the pass-through speed of objects being manually passed through said 3D imaging volume by system operator, and generating pass-through speed data representative of said measured or estimated pass-through speed of said objects;
• and
• a pass-through speed display subsystem, disposed in said system housing, using said pass-through speed data to visually and/or audible display, in real-time, indications representative of said pass-through speed measured or estimated by said at least one object motion sensor, so as to provide the system operator with feedback for the purpose of optimizing object throughput and improving checkout times and increasing worker productivity.